The Cardiac Cycle

The Cardiac Cycle

Mike talks us through the cardiac cycle diagram.

The cardiac cycle is a classic diagram of the FRCA viva. Key to success is to be systematic, and to line up all your key steps. Begin by building everything around the periods of isovolumetric contraction and isovolumetric relaxation. Remember key values, especially for the LV pressure at the margins of IVC and IVR. The curves then draw themselves.

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Physics and Measurement

  • Wheatstone Bridge
  • The Gas Laws
  • Vapour physics
  • Defibrillators
  • Cardiac Output Measurement
  • Vapourisers
  • Humidity and its Measurement

Physiology and Anatomy

  • The Cardiac Cycle1
  • The Brachial Plexus
  • The Neuromuscular Junction
  • Foetal Circulation
  • Cerebral Blood Flow
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Oxyhaemoglobin Dissociation Curve
  • The Alveolar Gas Equation
  • The Nephron (and diuretics)
  • Cardiac Action Potentials

Pharmacology

  • Three Compartment Model
  • Isomerism
  • Agonists and Antagonists
  • Acid-base and pH
  • pKa and the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
  • Excretion
  • Distribution
  • Metabolism