13 - Regional Circulation Flashcards
Three types of factors that influence bloodflow?
- Physical factors
- Neural and neurohumoral factors
- Metabolic Factors
_____________ takes into account the various factors that influence the flow of fluid through a tube
Poiseuille’s Law takes into account the various factors that influence the flow of fluid through a tube
What is Poiseuille’s Law?
Q= (Pi - Po)(π)(r4)/ 8ηl
Q = Flow
Pi and Po = inflow and outflow pressures
r= radius
l = length
η = viscosity of the fluid
What is the principle determinant of vascular resistance to blood flow?
Caliber (r4)
ie diameter
π/8 =
The constant proportionality
Resistance to blood flow is proportional to:
1/radius4
What is the relationship between flow and radius?
As radius decreases, flow decreases
(because as radius decreases, resistance increases to the 4th power)
What is the most important physiological regulator of blood flow?
Change in radius
Radius decreases = flow decreases
How does flow change if there is a pressure difference?
Flow increases with pressure difference (important during exercise)
How does flow change with length of vessel?
Flow decreases (resistance increases) with length of tube (not a very significant physiological regulator)
How does viscosity affect bloodflow?
Flow decreases (resistance increases) with increased viscosity
What are the “special tasks” of the coronary circulation?
- Delivery of oxygen at a high rate to keep pace of cardiac demand
- Virtually all oxygen is being extracted
What is the primary means of increasing oxygen supply to heart muscle?
Increase in coronary blood flow secondary to arteriolar vasodilation
- virtually all the O2 is being extracted from blood passing through the coronary circulation => increasing blood flow = increase O2 delivery
What are three physical factors influencing coronary blood flow?
- changes in aortic pressure
- Compression of coronary arteries by the contracting myocardium
- Autoregulation
Why is coronary blood flow lower during phases of isovolumetric contraction and ejection than during diastole
Coronary arteries are compressed when the myocardium contracts
What is Tachycardia?
- Abnormal increase in heart rate
- Increase HR = Increase time in systole => restrict flow
- BUT the mechanical reduction in flow is compensated by dilation due to increased metabolic demand in the rapidly beating heart
- Increase HR = Increase time in systole => restrict flow
What are the implications of tachycardia on the compression of the coronary arteries by the contracting myocardium?
Bulk of coronary blood flow occurs during diastole
- When HR increases (tachycardia) the duration of diastole decreases much more than the duration in systole
- Therefore, time available for coronary arterial inflow decreases and, as a result, tachycardia may be a problem for someone with coronary artery narrowing
What is autoregulation?
Myogenic tone = shifts diameter depending on HR
Increase HR = Increase diameter
*At any given metabolic rate (heartrate) blood flow increases relatively little with pressure (autoregulation)
Autoregulation:
At any given metabolic rate (heartrate) how does blood flow change?
*At any given metabolic rate (heartrate) blood flow increases relatively little with pressure (autoregulation)
Autoregulation:
At any given perfusion pressure, how does flow change?
At any given perfusion pressure, flow increases with metabolic rate (heart rate); this is Functional or metabolic hyperaemia
What is Functional or metabolic hyperaemia
At any given perfusion pressure, flow increases with metabolic rate
What is required for autoregulation?
Healthy endothelium
Metabolic factors allow vasodilation on endothelium to maintain and increased diameter
Adenosine → NO → vasodilation
Autoregulation is well developed in the coronary circulation but it is reset by ________ to operate at a ______ flow rate
Autoregulation is well developed in the coronary circulation but it is reset by metabolic vasodilation to operate at a higher flow rate
What are neural and neurohumoral factors influencing coronary blood flow?
- Both alpha (constrictors) and beta (dilators) receptors are present on the coronary vessels
- Sympathetic nerves = vasoconstriction
- increase HR → increase sympathetic output → increase vasoconstriction