0-1 Chapter 20 - blood vessels and circulation Flashcards
arteries
carry blood away from heart
veins
carry blood back to heart
capillaries
connect smallest arteries to veins
tunica interna
(tunica intima)
–lines the blood vessel and is exposed to blood
–endothelium –simple squamous epithelium overlying a basement membrane and a sparse layer of loose connective tissue
tunica interna
functions
•acts as a selectively permeable barrier
•secrete chemicals that stimulate dilation or constriction of the vessel
•normally repels blood cells and platelets that may adhere to it and form a clot
•when tissue around vessel is inflamed, the endothelial cells produce cell-adhesion molecules that induce leukocytes to adhere to the surface
–causes leukocytes to congregate in tissues where their defensive actions are needed
tunica media
–middle layer
–consists of smooth muscle, collagen, and elastic tissue
–strengthens vessel and prevents blood pressure from rupturing them
vasomotion
changes in diameter of the blood vessel brought about by smooth muscle
tunica externa
(tunica adventitia)
–outermost layer
–consists of loose connective tissue that often merges with that of neighboring blood vessels, nerves, or other organs
–anchors the vessel and provides passage for small nerves, lymphatic vessels
vasa vasorum
small vessels that supply blood to at least the outer half of the larger vessels
•blood from the lumen is thought to nourish the inner half of the vessel by diffusion
arteries
are sometimes called resistance vessels because they have relatively strong, resilient tissue structure that resists high blood pressure
conducting (elastic or large) arteries
- biggest arteries
- aorta, common carotid, subclavian, pulmonary trunk, and common iliac arteries
- have a layer of elastic tissue, internal elastic lamina, at the border between interna and media
- external elastic lamina at the border between media and externa
- expand during systole, recoil during diastole which lessens fluctuations in blood pressure
distributing (muscular or medium) arteries
- distributes blood to specific organs
- brachial, femoral, renal, and splenic arteries
- smooth muscle layers constitute three-fourths of wall thickness
aneurysm
weak point in an artery or the heart wall
–forms a thin-walled, bulging sac that pulsates with each heartbeat and may rupture at any time
dissecting aneurysm
blood accumulates between the tunics of the artery and separates them, usually because of degeneration of the tunica media
most common sites
abdominal aorta, renal arteries, and arterial circle at the base of the brain
results from
congenital weakness of the blood vessels or result of trauma or bacterial infections such as syphilis
•most common cause is atherosclerosis and hypertension
resistance (small) arteries
–arterioles –smallest arteries
•control amount of blood to various organs
–thicker tunica media in proportion to their lumen than large arteries and very little tunica externa
metarterioles
–short vessels that link arterioles to capillaries
–muscle cells form a precapillary sphincter about entrance to capillary
•constriction of these sphincters reduces or shuts off blood flow through their respective capillaries
•diverts blood to other tissues
Arterial Sense Organs
sensory structures in the walls of certain vessels that monitor blood pressure and chemistry
–transmit information to brainstem that serves to regulate heart rate, vasomotion, and respiration
carotid sinuses
baroreceptors (pressure sensors)
•in walls of internal carotid artery
•monitors blood pressure –signaling brainstem
–decreased heart rate and vessels dilation in response to high blood pressure
carotid bodies
chemoreceptors
•oval bodies near branch of common carotids
•monitor blood chemistry
•mainly transmit signals to the brainstem respiratory centers
•adjust respiratory rate to stabilize pH, CO2, and O2
aortic bodies
chemoreceptors
•one to three in walls of aortic arch
•same function as carotid bodies
capillaries
site where nutrients, wastes, and hormones pass between the blood and tissue fluid through the walls of the vessels (exchange vessels)
–the ‘business end’ of the cardiovascular system
–composed of endothelium and basal lamina
–absent or scarce in tendons, ligaments, epithelia, cornea and lens of the eye
three capillary types distinguished by
ease with which substances pass through their walls and by structural differences that account for their greater or lesser permeability