Blood Flow


In order to grasp the concepts of measuring and interpreting hemodynamic values, it is important to understand how blood flowing through the heart is related to the cardiac cycle.

Fluid flows from high pressure to lower pressure
Blood within the cardiovascular system adheres to this rule as evidenced by the direction of blood flow. The higher pressure generated by the left heart produces a gradient which moves blood from the left heart, through the body tissues to collect in the right side of the heart.

cardiac cycleDiastole:

Systole:

When the left ventricle (LV) contracts, it generates a systolic blood pressure of 100-140 millimeters of Hg (mm Hg).

The pressure of blood within the right atrium is the central venous pressure (CVP). The blood pressure of the vena cavae is similar to the CVP because there are no valves or flow obstructions between the vena cavae (VC) and the RA. The VC and heart's right side can be viewed as one chamber with a contractile portion at the distal end. The CVP averages between 2-6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

During right ventricular (RV) diastole, the pressure within the RV is between 0-5 mm Hg. Elasticity and compliance of the ventricular myocardium help generate a lower intraventricular pressure. Lower intraventricular pressure, aided by atrial systole, causes blood to flow across the open atrioventricular AV valve.

Right ventricular systolic pressure is usually from 20-30 mm Hg. This exceed the right atrial pressure. The pressure gradient applies greater pressure to the ventricular side of the AV valve, which causes it to close.

The pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, prior to systole, is normally 8-12 mm Hg. During RV systole the PA pressure will rise to equal the RV pressure, usually 20-30 mm Hg. The systolic PA pressure of 20-30 Hg is quickly dissepated by the compliance of the pulmonary vascular bed to a diastolic pressure of 8-12 Hg.

Blood leaves the pulmonary vasculature at about 4-12 mm Hg, passively entering the pulmonary veins. The pulmonary veins empty directly into the left atrium. Elasticity and compliance of the ventricular myocardium help generate a slightly lower intraventricular filling pressure. Lower intraventricular pressure, aided by atrial systole, causes blood to flow across the open atrioventricular AV valve.

LV systole generates 100-140 mm Hg. Aortic diastolic pressure is usually 60-90mm Hg. The pressure gradient of 100-140/60-90 mm Hg drives blood into the aorta and onward to the rest of the body. The cycle is complete.

Instant Feedback:

What causes the AV valve to close.
low atrial pressurel/high ventricular pressure
high atrial pressure/low ventricular pressure