The endocardium is the inner membrane covered with endothelium and representing cells of connective tissue. This element is designed to cover the heart muscle from the inside; it is from it that valves are formed (lunate, cuspid). Sash valves - the place of attachment of tendon threads. Semilunar valves are located near the aortic, pulmonary trunk openings. Valves prevent the wrong direction of blood flow.
What is a heart?
We all know that this organ is vital to humans. Usually people imagine it in the form of a kind of pump that rhythmically pumps blood. It is the heart that is the main component of the circulation of blood, lymph in our body. The heart at the same time represents a layered structure with three membranes, and a parenchymal complex, since parenchyma, stroma are present.
Cardiac Functions:
- pump (reductions allow you to control the pressure level);
- endocrine (production of natriuretic factor);
- informative (encoding data on the state of the body through pressure, blood flow rate).
Based on the information transmitted from the heart to individual tissues of the body, metabolic activity is adjusted.
Endocardium
This is a system formed by four layers:
- endothelium;
- subendothelium;
- elastic muscles;
- outer connective tissue.
And if more?
The first layer of the endocardium is the endothelium, located directly on the basement membrane. It is formed by flat cells arranged in one layer, lining the surface of the organ. Subendothelium is a rather loose structure created from connective tissue cells, but not shaped like the outer part. In fact, the two described layers together fulfill all the functionality that is assigned to the shells that cover the inside of the vessels for blood flow.
The layer of elastic muscles, as already seen from its name, is formed by myocytes. Also, elastic fibers took part in the creation of this element of the endocardium of the heart . If we draw parallels with the structure of the vascular system, the muscular elastic membrane is comparable to the middle vascular. Finally, the connecting layer is located outside. Its structure is quite loose, the fabric is not fully formed. When compared with the vascular system, the outer part performs the same functions as the outer shell of blood vessels. Connective tissue provides a connection between the endocardium and myocardium. It sprouts in the stroma.
About valves
The endocardium is an element of the cardiac system that forms the valves, that is, such dense fibrous plates that are created from connective cells. Valves are characterized by a relatively low concentration of cells adjacent to the endothelium.
The atrial part is usually smooth, the opposite is covered with growths that allow you to fix tendons and provide the heart with stable rhythmic work. The endocardium of the heart contains blood vessels in the layer of connective tissue from the outside, and cell nutrition is provided through diffusion processes of absorption of components from blood volumes located directly in the heart. Additionally, oxygen and essential trace elements are supplied from the vascular network forming the outer layer.
Anatomical features
The structure of the heart is rather complicated: the epicardium, myocardium, endocardium are present in different thicknesses in different elements of the organ. So, regarding the tissue in question, doctors say that its thickness is inversely proportional to the muscle power of a particular site. For example, in the left atrium, the layer will be quite thick, but in the ventricle, on the contrary. However, regardless of location, the three-layer structure of the endocardium is necessarily preserved.
The endothelium covering the endocardium allows this element of the cardiac system to cope with significant loads due to the adjustment of the strength of the influence of blood flow. In addition, metabolic products that actively pass through the subendothelium and blood plasma also have a strong effect on the endothelium itself. The endocardium consists of endotheliocytes, whose morphology is directly determined by the conditions of functioning of the tissue in a particular area.
Endotheliocytes
In the ventricle on the left, they are rather flat cells of a polygonal shape. A distinctive feature is the evenness of the contours. But on the right side, the cells themselves are noticeably larger, in some places their sizes significantly fall out of the general norm, their shape can vary significantly. Talking about the structural features and functions of the endocardium, doctors always pay attention to the cells that make up this tissue in the region of the false tendons. These are such multifaceted structures that are located either in the transverse direction or completely without orientation.
The gaps that separate the endothelial cells from each other are thin, difficult to configure for the valves and fibers of the fiber, which significantly stand out in comparison, for example, with trabecular tissue. At the same time, the structure and functions of the endocardium are forced to take into account the fact that the elements of fiber, valves do not have a clear orientation in space.
What else to look for?
Considering the structure of the endocardium, you need to take the time of the part that, due to its anatomical structure, is in constant contact with the blood. These elements are coated with glycocalyx - an organic material that prevents the formation of blood clots. If you look closely at the relief of this area, it becomes noticeable that it is similar to the endothelial monolayer.
Atria is characterized by a flat surface of the tissue in question. The endocardium in the part of the endothelium is a subendothelial layer of small thickness. The main component of this tissue is collagen, which has a mesh shape, thick, when examined under a microscope, exhibits a thin fibrillar structure. All this complex of cells, as can be concluded by studying the structure of the myocardium, is located in the intercellular substance diluted with cambium.
Fabric Specific Features
The considered formation covers the myocardium - all its surfaces. In a healthy body, there will simply be no exceptions. Through this, the main value of the endocardium is realized, which is designed to protect the myocardium and ensure the normal functioning of the heart muscle as a whole. The endocardium covers all the crossbars, muscles, papillae, tissue elements near the holes.
It is equally important to remember that the endocardium covering the myocardium creates a certain similarity of the heart with the arteries of the human body. The main similarities have already been indicated above. This allows the cardiovascular system to be a single, uniform, effectively working as a complex set of interconnected organs.
Everything is thought out!
Blood cells are quite delicate structures that can be disturbed by the slightest negative external influence. To prevent this from happening, nature provides for the glycoprotein coating of the cells from which the endocardium is formed (the epicardium that covers the muscle tissue from the outside also has special protection, but of a different nature). If you carefully study the endocardial cells, you will notice that they are as if polished. Due to this feature, blood cells do not violate their structure, passing through the heart and blood vessels - and even the slightest roughness would threaten them. If endotheliocytes get a defect, a chain reaction will begin: blood will coagulate.
One of the features of the endocardium (a layer is formed by special cells - endotheliocytes) is the ability to form folds in the holes inside the heart. For example, at the base of the trunk of the pulmonary artery, the aorta, you can see three folds, similar in shape to pockets. A slightly larger trinity is located near the atrioventricular foramen on the right, only two pockets on the left. The key feature of the folds is mobility, due to which the gaps close, open. A well-coordinated system is somewhat similar to steam valves, only blood plays the role of steam in our body.
Endocarditis
This term is used to mean inflammation of the endocardium - a serious disease. Most often it is provoked by local infection. The endocardium suffers, in most cases, the valves are the first to be affected. The work of these elements ensures normal blood flow, similar to the phases of cardiac activity, but inflammation interferes with the functioning of the organ. If the disease is not treated, it was not completely cured or a relapse occurs, there is a high probability of getting a valve defect, that is, a permanent defect.
In most cases, secondary inflammation develops in the heart, which is provoked by similar processes in other organs and tissues. This may be a relapse or the result of a chronic pathology. Quite often, infectious agents penetrate from the tonsils, ovaries. There are cases when the cause was in recurrent infections of a general nature. In particular, the flu can lead to such a complication.
How to suspect?
With inflammation, endocardial function is impaired, so patients come to the hospital with complaints of increased fatigue, shortness of breath, accompanying minimal physical exertion. Often chronically kept fever, even fever is possible for a long time. With the inflammatory process, the heartbeat becomes more frequent, but the pulse is palpated weakly, while its speed increases sharply with minimal physical activity. Also, with inflammation of the endocardium, pale skin, soreness and a feeling of tightness near the heart are noted.
To restore endocardial function, it is necessary to undergo a therapeutic course. The inflammatory process is not easy to defeat, usually the program drags on for a long time and is quite difficult for patients to tolerate. It is known that with endocarditis, the quality of life is significantly reduced. To determine the optimal therapeutic program, it is important to carefully evaluate the condition of a person first. To do this, undergo a detailed examination by a cardiologist. It is this doctor who will be responsible for further treatment of the patient until complete recovery.
Classic treatment program
As a rule, the traditional approach requires composing the following factors:
- minimum load on the heart;
- elimination of the infectious focus;
- antibacterial, antiviral program;
- antirheumatic therapy;
- cardiotonic course, allowing you to maintain normal blood supply to organs and tissues.
As an auxiliary technique, you can resort to folk methods, diets, climate therapy, healing mud, water, plants.
Herbs against endocarditis
Various herbs will bring good help in the fight against inflammatory processes. Most often resort to fees, which include chamomile, licorice, arnica, mullein, calendula, St. John's wort, goldenrod and verbena. Before starting such treatment, you need to consult your doctor and pay attention to the possibility of allergies. All of these plants have a rather strong positive effect on the body, but they can provoke negative reactions - many cases of allergies are known. In addition, you should not expect that such a medicine will be "tasty", many are unhappy even with its smell. Doctors emphasize: you need not only to resort to herbs to support the condition of the body and eliminate inflammation, but to use them only in combination with the main medical course.
The following herbs are considered useful for the heart, allowing you to additionally bring down the heat: willow bark, elderberry flowers, linden inflorescences, meadowsweet, blackcurrant, raspberry. For anesthetic effect, you can take infusions and decoctions containing motherwort, valerian, lemon balm, hops, bark of a cinchona tree.
Weather, mud and water
To effectively complete the therapeutic program and a successful rehabilitation course, it is worth practicing treatment with mud and climate. But at the stage of acute inflammation, these methods are contraindicated. You should not combine methods with a pharmacological course. During the main treatment in the fresh air, it is best to stay lying down to minimize the load. But at the rehabilitation stage, small walks have a good tonic effect.
Hydrotherapy, which allows you to restore health in case of heart disease, usually boils down to warm irrigation, hygienic baths. You can resort to such procedures only with the permission of the attending doctor, since in the acute phase this can significantly aggravate the patient's condition.
Proper nutrition is the key to health
When identifying endocarditis, it is recommended to eat often in small portions. Allowed only light meals that do not create stress on the body. It is advisable to drink juices, eat honey. You can eat pollen. Doctors allow natural coffee, but only in small quantities, if the patient suffers from low blood pressure.
Will have to completely abandon any bad habits. Inflammatory processes are exacerbated by smoking and alcoholic beverages, so they are strictly prohibited for the period of treatment and long-term rehabilitation.
How to avoid complications?
Endocarditis is dangerous not only in itself, but also with an increased likelihood of developing a variety of complications. The key rule of prevention is careful adherence to the doctor's recommendations. If the processes make it possible to suspect that heart defects begin to develop, it is important to minimize experiences and reduce physical activity. The stronger the voltage, the higher the probability of irreversible processes and the more significant the speed of their passage.
For prevention, a rather important aspect is diet optimization. Regimes should be such that the load on the heart is minimized, at the same time, products that are effective as measures to prevent atherosclerosis, which is especially dangerous for endocarditis, must be likened: narrowing of the coronary arterial blood vessels leads to oxygen deficiency in the myocardium.
Effective diets
The most useful will be the generally accepted medical nutritional programs 10, 10a. The first involves minimizing the amount of salt entering the body. You will also have to abandon fat, spicy, alcoholic beverages, which increase the load on the heart muscle directly or indirectly.
In general, you should eat foods from the following list:
- bread made from bran flour;
- pasta;
- vegetables fruits;
- fat free soups;
- boiled fish, lean meat;
- confectionery products (but dark chocolate is prohibited);
- dairy products.
If you take a responsible diet program and regularly visit your doctor, you can not be afraid of relapse. If you already have heart defects, adhering to such a program, you can minimize the discomfort provoked by a health disorder, as well as reduce heart failure.
Endocarditis Complications
The consequences of this disease can even haunt patients in whom the underlying inflammatory process was defeated quickly enough. Some complications only slightly limit everyday life, others are dangerous to humans and can cause death.
Most often, the following consequences of an inflammatory disease are found:
- failure of the functioning of the heart muscle in a chronic form;
- prolonged infection of tissues;
- thromboembolism.
Heart failure
This complication is characteristic of a wide list of heart diseases and is found in many people. The condition is pathological, characterized by the inability to pump blood masses in the quantity necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Endocarditis often leads to problems in contractions of the muscle tissue of the heart, which reduces the volume of the organ chambers. An even more common pathological condition provoked by violations in the operation of the valves is a narrowing of this area, perforation of the valves. All this leads to abnormal blood flow.