1.2 Histology of the CVS Flashcards
Where do arteries carry blood from and to?
From the heart
To the capillary beds
How much blood will a large man have in his body?
6 litres
Name the 3 arteries that branch from the aortic arch
Brachiocephillic artery
Left common carotid artery
Left subclavian artery
What is ‘systole’?
Heart contraction
What is ‘diastole’?
The relaxed period between contractions of the heart
Name the 3 layers of artery and vein walls
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica adventitia
What is an ‘end artery’? Give an example
A terminal artery supplying all or most of the blood to a body part without collateral circulation.
Example: LAD (left anterior descending) artery
What is an ‘arteriole’?
An artery with a diameter less than 0.1mm.
What is a ‘metarteriole’?
Supply blood to the capillary beds.
What vessels have the largest surface area?
Capillaries
Where is blood velocity at its slowest?
Capillaries
What is a ‘continuous capillary’?
The most common type of capillary located in the nervous, muscle, exocrine glands, lungs and connective tissues. They have a continuous endothelial layer with cells joined by tight junctions.
What are ‘pericytes’?
Cells which form a branching network on the outer surface of the endothelium. They are capable of dividing in angiogenesis, tumour growth and wound healing.
What is a ‘fenestrated capillary’?
Capillaries with interruptions along the endothelium bridged by a thin diaphragm. Found in the gut, endocrine glands and renal glomerulus.
What is a ‘sinusoidal capillary’?
These capillaries have a larger diameter and a slower blood flow. There are gaps in the wall. They are found in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.
