a Power Point presentation on cardiac catherization. An assignment at Colorado Technical University online.

1. Cardiac Catherization IP 2
MICHELLE STAHL
BIOLOGY 144 SECTION04
MARCH 4, 2012

2. Introduction
 Coronary circulation is the blood flow to the heart
that supplies the heart with oxygen and nutrients.
Without this the heart muscles would begin to die.
Heart muscle unlike other muscles cannot heal itself.
As heart tissue dies off the heart doesn’t contract as
well, and cannot keep up with the demands of the
body. Cardiac catherization seeks to remove blocked
blood vessels in the heart to restore blood flow to the
heart. Blocked blood vessels are most often caused
by coronary artery disease.

3. Coronary Circulation
 Two branches off the aorta called the right and left
coronary arteries supply blood to the heart (David,
Jackie, & Lewis, 2010, Chapter 15).
 The right coronary artery travels along the
atrioventricular sulcus and has two branches. The
posterior interventricular artery travels along the
posterior interventricular sulcus and supplies the
walls of both ventricles . (David, Jackie, & Lewis,
2010, Chapter 15).

4. Coronary Circulation continued
 The marginal artery travels along the lower border of
the heart and has branches that supply the walls of
the right atrium and the right
ventricle(David, Jackie, & Lewis, 2010, Chapter 15).
 The left coronary artery has a branch called the
circumflex artery that follows the atrioventricular
sulcus between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
It supplies blood to the wall of the left atrium and the
left ventricle (David, Jackie, & Lewis, 2010, Chapter
15).

5. Coronary Circulation Continued
 The anterior interventricular artery is a branch of
the left coronary artery and travels in the anterior
interventricular sulcus. This artery supplies blood
to the walls of both ventricles (David, Jackie, &
Lewis, 2010, Chapter 15).
 Smaller branches of the arteries usually have
connections that serve as alternative pathways for
blood called collateral circulation (David, Jackie, &
Lewis, 2010, Chapter 15).

6. Coronary Circulation continued
 Cardiac veins drain blood that have passed through
the capillaries in the heart.
 The veins follow the arteries in the coronary system.
 They join the coronary sinus: a large vein that
empties into the right atrium so blood can be sent to
the lungs to pick up oxygen (David, Jackie, & Lewis,
2010, Chapter 15).

7. Coronary Artery Disease
 Over time plaque (a substance made up of
cholesterol and lipids) can build up on the arterial
walls narrowing the openings and reducing blood
flow.
 This plaque can rupture and cause clots that further
block arteries.
 Sometimes the arteries become completely blocked
and the heart cannot get blood, as a result the
muscles in that region of the heart begin to die.
(The Mayo Clinic staff [Mayo Clinic], 2010, para. 1-2)

8. Cardiac Catherization
 Cardiac catherization is a procedure to treat heart
disease or diagnose it
 A thin flexible tube called a catheter is sent into a
blood vessel in the groin, neck, or arm then travels
through the blood vessels to the heart .
 A dye is injected into the tube and can show
blockages on x-rays.
 Your doctor can then diagnose or treat these
blockages.(Medicine Net, 2012)

9. Cardiac Catherization
 Small tools or medicines can also be inserted or
injected to remove blockages.
 A uninflated balloon can also be threaded though
and inflated to enlarge the opening.
 Stents, an expandable tube or coil, can also be placed
to hold an artery open.
 These procedures help restore blood flow to the
affected area.

10. Cardiac
catherization
The doctor will
make an
incision in the
upper thigh to
access the
femoral artery
pictured here.
This will be the
insertion point
for the catheter
(Aprevealed, 2012).

11. Cardiac
catherization
The catheter
will then be
pushed up the
common iliac
artery pictured
here
(Aprevealed, 20
12)

12. Cardiac
Catherization
Next the
catheter will
travel into the
abdominal
aorta on its way
to the heart
(Aprevealed, 20
12)

13. Cardiac
Catherization
Highlighted in
blue is the Left
coronary artery
and its
branches. From
here the doctor
goes to the site
of the blockage
(Aprevealed,
2012).

14. The Causes of Heart Disease
 Blocked blood vessels prevent the flow of blood to
the heart.
 When the flow of blood is not reaching the heart
tissues are starved of oxygen and nutrients.
 As the heart beats continuously the tissues begin to
die, dead tissue cannot heal.
 As more areas of the heart die it contracts less
forcibly and cannot meet the demands of the body
for blood(David, Jackie, & Lewis, 2010, Chapter 15).

15. Risks factors for Cardiovascular disease
 A sedentary lifestyle.
 A diet high in fats and cholesterol.
 Smoking constricts blood vessels.
 Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels from
high blood sugars.
 High blood pressure.
 Heredity or family history of heart disease.

16. Risks for Cardiovascular Disease
 Age as you get older plaque naturally builds up in
your blood vessels.
 Men are at more risk and women after menopause.
 High blood cholesterol or blood lipids.
 Obesity puts strain on the entire body, the heart has
to pump harder to push blood through.
 High stress
(Mayo Clinic, 2012)

17. References
 Anatomy & Physiology Revealed 3.0 (Version 3.0) [Computer software]. (2011).
Retrieved from http://www.mhhe.com/sem/apr3/
 David, S., Jackie, B., & Lewis, R. (2010). Hole’s Human Anatomy & Physiology (12
ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
 MedicineNet.com. (2012). Heart Disease and Cardiac Catheterization. Retrieved
from http://www.medicinenet.com/cardiac_catheterization/article.htm
 The Mayo Clinic staff. (2010). Coronary artery disease. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-artery-disease/DS00064