Cardiovascular System & Its Diseases

Lecture #1
Cardiovascular System

Dr. Derek Bowie,

Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics,
Room 1317, McIntyre Bldg, McGill University
derek.bowie@mcgill.ca
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Why do we bother teaching

Cardiovascular Pharmacology?

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*
* Related Disorders

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Mainly Thro’ Our Own Habits

Socio-Economic Status Too!

 Overview of Lecture Series
Bits ‘N’ Pieces
Blood, Heart, Blood-Vessels

1. Cardiovascular System Keeping It Under Control

Heart Rate, Blood Pressure

When Things Go Wrong

Hypertension, Ischemia, Heart Failure, Arrhythmias

Aetiology Diagnosis
2. Hypertension Treatment
Sympathoplegic Drugs, Diuretics, Vasodilators, Angiotensin Antagonists

Aetiology Diagnosis

3. Myocardial Ischemia Treatment

Symptomatic: Nitrites, Calcium Channel Blockers, β-Blockers

Prophylactic: Lipid lowering, Anti-coagulant, Anti-platelet drugs

Aetiology Diagnosis

Treatment
4. Heart Failure & Heart Failure: Nitrites, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics,
Cardiac Arrhythmias Angiotensin Antagonists, β-Blockers, β-Receptor Agonist, Cardiac Glycosides

Arrhythmias: Channel Blockers (Groups I – IV), Miscellaneous

 What To Read?

Chapters 8 -19 Chapters 2 - 3

 What Will You
Learn Today?

Don’t Put the Cart Before The Horse

Physiology Then Pharmacology

1. Components of the CV System: Blood, Heart & Blood Vessels

2. Regulation: Heart Rate, Blood Pressure (Autonomic NS) & Pharmacology

3. Playing Doctor: Mystery Case !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 1. Components of the CV System

Simple System Open Circulatory System

(single-celled organisms use their surface for nutrient (common to molluscs and arthropods; blood bathes tissues
and gaseous exchange) with flow being sluggish)

There are different types of Circulatory Systems

 1. Components of the CV System

Closed Circulatory System Vertebrate Cardiovascular System

(in echinoderms and vertebrates; blood enclosed in (multi-chambered heart with complex valves; blood
specialized vessels) transported in vessels)
A Little Bit of History
Fish:
Single (2-chambers) circulatory system (gills to rest of body)

Amphibians / Reptiles:
Double (sometimes 3-chambers though)

Birds / Mammals:
Complete separation (4-chambers)

4th Century BC:

Herophilus distinguished arteries from veins (blood collects
in veins at death and empties from arteries; therefore,
postulated arteries carried air)

2nd Century AD:

Galen assigned different functions to veins and arteries

1242:
Ibn Nafis first to describe blood circulation in body

1628:
William Harvey described circulatory system in influential
book but failed to identify the capillaries
Heart Rate During Embryonic Development

Heart is one of the first organs to appear during development

(i) Blood
 Components Of Blood

Some antihypertensives regulate blood volume

 Cellular Components Of Blood

Red blood cells Leucocytes Platelet

Anticoagulants are used to prevent further blood vessel occlusion

Magnification x10,000
 Dynamic Nature Of RBCs

Blood Clotting Sickle Cell anaemia

Magnification x 5,000
(ii) Heart
 Cardiac Cycle

Pwave Atrial Depolarization

QRScomplex Ventricular depolarization

Twave Ventricular Repolarization

NB Atrial repolarization is masked by QRScomplex

* In hypertension arterial
pressure is elevated which
compromises the ability of the
ventricles to pump effectively *

AV valve Semilunar valve

closure closure
 (Semi-lunar valves)

Determining Normal Heart Behavior

Adult Heart Link Foetal Heart Link

Normal functioning heart consists of pairs of sounds. Each pair, lub-

dub, lub-dub begins with the 1st sound and ends with the 2nd. The
major audible components are related to mitral, tricuspid and semi-
lunar valve closure.
(tricuspid)
(bicuspid)
MidSystolic Murmur Continuous Murmur
A midsystolic murmur begins A pan diastolic murmur begins
shortly after the first sound, peaks in with the second sound and
Early Systolic Murmur the middle of systole, and does not extends throughout the diastolic
quite extend to the second sound. It period. Patent ductus arteriosus
Early systolic murmurs begin with
is also known as ejection murmur. (PDA) is a classical example of
the first sound and peak in the first
The most characteristic feature of this murmur. This condition is
third of systole. Early murmors
this murmur is its cessation before usually corrected in childhood. It is
have the greatest intensity in the
the second sound, thus leaving this heard best at base left and has
early part of the cycle. Common
latter sound identifiable as a discrete both a systolic and diastolic
causes are a small ventricular
entity. This type of murmur is component. It is known as a
septal defect (VSD), or the
commonly heard in normal continuous murmur.
innocent murmurs of childhood.
individuals, particularly in the young
This recording is an early systolic
who usually have increased blood Link
murmur from a 20 year-old female
volumes flowing over normal valves.
with a small muscular VSD. Link
Link Courtesy of: Virtual Stethoscope Web Site
http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/mvs/mvsteth.htm
(iii) Blood Vessels
Circulatory Routes
One-Way Valve In A Vein
Skeletal Muscle Aids Returning Blood To The Heart
Hemodynamic Properties Of Blood Vessels
Contractility is regulated
by drugs
Atherosclerosis Restricts Blood Flow In Vessels

Can lead to claudication

(leg pain due to poor circulation)
 Regulating Heart Rate

2 Things To Remember:

Cardiac Pacemaker Activity & the Autonomic NS

What Is The Autonomic Nervous System?

Autonomic NS
(Involuntary)

Somatic NS
(Voluntary)
Sympathetic & Parasympathetic NS Have
Opposing Actions On The Heart
Typical Cholinergic & Noradrenergic Nerve Endings
 Homeostatic Regulation Of Heart Rate

Marey’s Law: Inverse relationship between blood pressure & heart rate
 Autonomic Nervous System Regulates Heart Rate

Contain
Baroreceptors

Medulla provides autonomic

regulation of heart rate

Innervation that contributes

to the Carotid Sinus & Aortic Reflex
Regulating Blood Pressure
Controlling Blood Pressure At Multiple Regulatory Sites
Autonomic & Hormonal Control Of Cardiovascular Function

Autonomic Loop is fast (seconds to minutes) whereas

the hormonal loop is slower (hours to days)
NAME MY DISEASE
 Cardiovascular System & Its Diseases:
Autonomic Nervous System

Case Study

The patient is 21 yrs old and has experienced frequent episodes of

blurred vision, dizziness, faintness and syncope for as long as she can
remember.

She is the only child; her mother has a history of two spontaneous
abortions at 12 and 14 weeks of gestation and one stillborn child at 38
weeks. The subject had a normal development during childhood;
although she was considered apathetic and she avoided physical
exercise.

Is this a disorder of the Sympathetic NS,

Parasympathetic NS or Both?
 Cardiovascular System & Its Diseases:
Autonomic Nervous System
Case Study

Plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline were undetectable but dopamine

was 7 times normal. Upon 60o head-up tilting, noradrenaline and
adrenaline did not change (in normal subjects, they increase) but
dopamine increased (usually it does not).

What’s wrong with this patient?

Cardiovascular System & Its Diseases:
Autonomic Nervous System
Case Study

This patient has a congenital deficiency

in dopamine β-hydroxylase;

The enzyme which converts dopamine

to noradrenaline.
What’s Next?
 Disease States

Lecture #2. Hypertension most common, asymptomatic

Lecture #3. Myocardial Ischemia demand-supply imbalance

Lecture #4. Heart Failure multifactorial Arrhythmias impulse abnormality

Cardiovascular System And Its Diseases

What Have We Learned?

1. Components: Blood, Heart & Blood Vessels

2. Regulation: Heart Rate & Blood Pressure

3. Diseases: Hypertension, Angina, Heart Failure & Arrhythmias

 Further Reading?

Pages 56 - 64, 99 -115, 121-129 Chapters 11 - 15