The conduction system of the heart or cardiac conduction system is a collection of nodes and specialized conduction cells that are responsible for the initiation of the normal heart cycle and coordinate the contractions of cardiac chambers. Conduction system of heart consists of the following Sinoatrial node Atrioventricular node Atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His) Purkinje […]
Cardiovascular System
Lymph Node Structure and Function
The lymph node is small, oval bean-shaped structure of lymphatic system formed of lymphoid tissue enclosed in a connective tissue capsule. These occur in association with the lymphatic vessels and serve as filters for the blood. They are typically found concentrated near junctions of the major lymphatic vessels, most prominently in the neck, groin, and […]
Subclavian Steal Syndrome Presentation and Treatment
Subclavian steal syndrome is said to be present when the blood flow in vertebral artery reverses due to significant stenosis or occlusion of the ipsilateral subclavian artery just before the origin of the vertebral artery. As a number of these cases are asymptomatic, the term Subclavian steal syndrome is used when there is a presence […]
Postpericardiotomy Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) occurs in a subgroup of patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery and is characterized by fever, pleuritic pain, pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion. It occurs due to immune-mediated inflammation of the pleura and pericardium. Postpericardiotomy syndrome after is known to occur following myocardial infarction too and it is called Dressler syndrome. Both fall […]
Dressler Syndrome Presentation and Treatment
Dressler syndrome is a delayed immune-mediated or secondary pericarditis developing weeks to months after a myocardial infarction characterized by pleuritic chest pain, low-grade fever, and pericarditis. It is also called post-myocardial infarction syndrome. Earlier the syndrome was quite common but the incidence has decreased owing to better reperfusion. This syndrome is now considered under the group postpericardiotomy syndrome which is […]
Heart Rate Measurement and Significance
Heart rate is the number of times that our heart contracts or beats in a minute. The main function of the heart is to maintain adequate blood supply [Heart sends oxygenated blood to the body so that tissues could extract the oxygen for their use]. Therefore the rate varies according to the demands of the […]
Types of Heart Disease and Their Symptoms
Heart disease is also called cardiopathy. Both of these are kind of umbrella term for a variety of different diseases affecting the heart. Heart diseases can be of following types: Coronary Heart Disease It implies the failure of the circulation to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. Coronary heart disease is most commonly equated with Coronary […]
Sphygmomanometer and Blood Pressure Measurement
A sphygmomanometer is an instrument used for blood pressure measurement. A sphygmomanometer is also known as a blood pressure meter, blood pressure monitor, or blood pressure gauge. The device consists of an inflatable cuff, a measuring unit and a mechanism for inflation which may be a manually operated electrically operated. Measuring of blood pressure is important in diagnosing Hypertension, Hypotension, Pulsus paradoxus, pulsus […]
Jugular Venous Pulse or Jugular venous Pressure or JVP
The jugular venous pressure or sometimes referred to as jugular venous pulse (jvp) is the indirectly observed pressure via visualization of the internal jugular vein. Normal Jugular Venous Pulse The normal JVP consists of three positive pulse waves a, c and v and two negative pulse waves x and y. The ‘A’ Wave The ‘a’ […]
Hypotension- Types, Causes and Treatment
Hypotension is a medical term for low blood pressure especially in systemic circulation [arterial circulation that supplies different organs of the body. Because the blood pressure is lowered, heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough blood. The normal blood pressures are in the range of 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. […]