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🫀 Body Fluids, Circulation & Cardiac Electrophysiology

Circulation ensures continuous hydrostatic convection of oxygen, glucose, hormones, and electrolytes to peripheral tissues while transporting metabolic wastes to excretory organs.


1. 🩸 Blood Composition & Coagulation Cascade

\mathbf{\text{Blood (100\text{\%})} = \text{Plasma (55\text{\%})} + \text{Formed Elements / Cells (45\text{\%})}}
  • Formed Elements:
    • Erythrocytes (RBCs): 5.05.5 million/mm3; biconcave, enucleated; lifespan \a120 days.
    • Leukocytes (WBCs): 60008000/mm3. Neutrophils (6065%), Lymphocytes (2025%), Monocytes (68%), Eosinophils (23%), Basophils (0.51%, secrete Histamine, Serotonin, Heparin).
    • Thrombocytes (Platelets): 1.53.5 lakhs/mm3; cell fragments of megakaryocytes in bone marrow.

1.1 The Enzyme Cascade of Blood Clotting

Injured Tissue / PlateletsThrombokinase (Thromboplastin)Ca2+Inactivates HeparinProthrombin (Inactive Plasma Protein)ThrombokinaseCa2+Thrombin (Active Protease)Fibrinogen (Soluble)ThrombinCa2+Fibrin MonomersFibrin Insoluble Meshwork (Clot)

2. ⚡ The Cardiac Cycle & Nodal Conduction System

                        CARDIAC CONDUCTION SEQUENCE
     SA Node (Pacemaker: 70-75 bpm) ──► Inter-nodal Pathways ──► AV Node (40-60 bpm)

                                                                       ▼ [0.1 sec AV Nodal Delay]
     Purkinje Fibers (Rapid conduction) ◄── Bundle Branches ◄── Bundle of His

2.1 Cardiac Cycle Timeline (0.8 seconds at 75 bpm)

Cardiac Output (CO)=Stroke Volume (SV:70mL)×Heart Rate (HR:72bpm)\a5040mL/min\a5L/min
  0.0 s ──────── 0.1 s ──────────────── 0.4 s ──────────────────────── 0.8 s
  [Atrial Systole: 0.1s] [Ventricular Systole: 0.3s]   [Joint Diastole: 0.4s]
  (AV Valves Open)       (Isovolumetric Contraction ->  (AV Valves Open; Passive
                          Semilunar Valves Eject Blood)  Ventricular Filling: 70%)
  • First Heart Sound (LUBB): Closure of Tricuspid & Bicuspid (Mitral) AV valves at the onset of ventricular systole. (Low-pitched, long duration).
  • Second Heart Sound (DUPP): Closure of Semilunar valves at the onset of ventricular diastole. (High-pitched, sharp, short duration).

3. 📈 Electrocardiogram (ECG) Deflection Waves

  Voltage (mV)
      ▲               R
      │               /\
      │              /  \
      │    P        /    \          T
      │   /─\      /      \        /─\
      └──/   \────Q        \──────/   \──► Time (s)
                            S
Wave / IntervalElectrophysiological PhenomenonClinical Correlation
P-WaveAtrial Depolarization (SA node fires; leads to atrial contraction)Absent in Atrial Fibrillation; Enlarged in Atrial Hypertrophy.
QRS ComplexVentricular Depolarization (Spreads via Purkinje fibers; leads to ventricular contraction)Wide QRS indicates Bundle Branch Block; Q-wave abnormalities indicate Myocardial Infarction.
T-WaveVentricular Repolarization (Ventricular relaxation from systole to diastole)Inverted/Flat T-wave indicates myocardial ischemia; Peaked/Tall T-wave indicates Hyperkalemia.