Cardiovascular

~11% of blueprint

Highest-yield system. ACS, HF, arrhythmias, valvular disease.

Flashcards Prep Rounds

Disease Profiles

Anatomy

Region: Within the myocardium, from the right atrium to the ventricles.
Key Structures: SA node (RA) → AV node → Bundle of His → R/L bundle branches → Purkinje fibers.
Clinical Correlation: SA node = dominant pacemaker; AV nodal delay = PR interval; block at His/branches → bundle branch & heart block.

High-Yield Pearl

SA node is the pacemaker; the AV node is the gatekeeper that delays conduction so the atria empty first.

Region: Epicardial surface of the heart, arising from the aortic root.
Key Structures: LAD & LCx (from left main), RCA; RCA → PDA in ~85% (right-dominant).
Clinical Correlation: LAD occlusion → anterior MI (V1–V4); RCA → inferior MI (II, III, aVF); LCx → lateral MI (I, aVL, V5–V6).

High-Yield Pearl

RCA supplies the SA node in ~60% — inferior MI → watch for bradyarrhythmias & AV block.

Region: Anchored to the fibrous cardiac skeleton at the AV and outflow junctions.
Key Structures: AV valves: tricuspid (R), mitral/bicuspid (L). Semilunar: pulmonic (R), aortic (L).
Clinical Correlation: Auscultation: Aortic (R 2nd ICS), Pulmonic (L 2nd ICS), Tricuspid (L lower sternal), Mitral (apex).

High-Yield Pearl

“APT M” — All Physicians Take Money — Aortic → Pulmonic → Tricuspid → Mitral auscultation sites.

Region: Fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and great-vessel roots.
Key Structures: Fibrous pericardium + serous (parietal & visceral/epicardium) layers; pericardial space (~15–50 mL fluid).
Clinical Correlation: Inflammation → pericarditis (friction rub, diffuse ST elevation); fluid → effusion → tamponade.

High-Yield Pearl

Beck’s triad = hypotension + JVD + muffled heart sounds → cardiac tamponade (a clinical emergency).

Disease Profiles

Anatomy

Region: Within the myocardium, from the right atrium to the ventricles.
Key Structures: SA node (RA) → AV node → Bundle of His → R/L bundle branches → Purkinje fibers.
Clinical Correlation: SA node = dominant pacemaker; AV nodal delay = PR interval; block at His/branches → bundle branch & heart block.

High-Yield Pearl

SA node is the pacemaker; the AV node is the gatekeeper that delays conduction so the atria empty first.

Region: Epicardial surface of the heart, arising from the aortic root.
Key Structures: LAD & LCx (from left main), RCA; RCA → PDA in ~85% (right-dominant).
Clinical Correlation: LAD occlusion → anterior MI (V1–V4); RCA → inferior MI (II, III, aVF); LCx → lateral MI (I, aVL, V5–V6).

High-Yield Pearl

RCA supplies the SA node in ~60% — inferior MI → watch for bradyarrhythmias & AV block.

Region: Anchored to the fibrous cardiac skeleton at the AV and outflow junctions.
Key Structures: AV valves: tricuspid (R), mitral/bicuspid (L). Semilunar: pulmonic (R), aortic (L).
Clinical Correlation: Auscultation: Aortic (R 2nd ICS), Pulmonic (L 2nd ICS), Tricuspid (L lower sternal), Mitral (apex).

High-Yield Pearl

“APT M” — All Physicians Take Money — Aortic → Pulmonic → Tricuspid → Mitral auscultation sites.

Region: Fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and great-vessel roots.
Key Structures: Fibrous pericardium + serous (parietal & visceral/epicardium) layers; pericardial space (~15–50 mL fluid).
Clinical Correlation: Inflammation → pericarditis (friction rub, diffuse ST elevation); fluid → effusion → tamponade.

High-Yield Pearl

Beck’s triad = hypotension + JVD + muffled heart sounds → cardiac tamponade (a clinical emergency).

Disease Profiles

Acute Coronary Syndrome (STEMI)

Acute Pericarditis

Aortic Dissection

Aortic Stenosis

Atrial Fibrillation

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Heart Failure (HFrEF)

Hyperlipidemia

Hypertension (Essential)

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Infective Endocarditis

Mitral Regurgitation

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Tetralogy of Fallot

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Anatomy

Cardiac Conduction System

Coronary Arteries

Heart Valves

Pericardium

Disease Profiles

Acute Coronary Syndrome (STEMI)

Acute Pericarditis

Aortic Dissection

Aortic Stenosis

Atrial Fibrillation

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Heart Failure (HFrEF)

Hyperlipidemia

Hypertension (Essential)

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Infective Endocarditis

Mitral Regurgitation

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Tetralogy of Fallot

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Anatomy

Cardiac Conduction System

Coronary Arteries

Heart Valves

Pericardium