23 and 24 - Blood Pressure Regulation I and II Flashcards
- Diagram and label the aortic pressure pulse. (Include on your diagram (1) the dichrotic notch (Incisura) (2) the diastolic runoff (3) the systolic pressure (4) the diastolic pressure and (5) the pulse pressure
Aa
Why is the true mean pressure of an artery different from the estimated mean pressure of the same artery?
Because in order to obtain a true mean pressure, we would need to integrate information obtained over a period of time
How do we estimate the mean pressure?
Estimated mean pressure = diastolic pressure + ((1/3)(pulse pressure))
What is the pulse pressure?
Systolic - diastolic
What is the result of the mean pressure being estimated this way?
This will result in a pressure that is closer to the diastolic pressure because according to the curve, more time is spent in diastole
What is the equation to estimate mean pressure if you are given the systolic and diastolic pressure?
Mean pressure = diastolic pressure + (1/3 ((systolic - diastolic))
Why would the pressure pulse travel much faster than the blood within the artery?
- Pressure pulse and blood flow are two independent occurrences
- Pressure pulse is just a shockwave traveling through the medium
- The velocity of the medium (blood) does NOT matter
What is the pressure pulse again?
The difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure
Systolic - Diastolic
Why does the shape of the pressure pulse curve change as the pressure pulse travels down the arterial tree?
The pressure curve changes as the pulse changes velocity
- Generally, as the arteries become less compliant (more stiff), the pulse moves faster
- As the velocity changes, different components of the pressure pulse will be shifted
What is the effect of compliance (elasticity, stiffness) on the velocity of conduction?
Conduction
- Low arterial compliance (pretty stiff) means that the wave will move faster
What is the effect of compliance (elasticity) on the velocity of conduction of the pressure pulse?
Pressure pulse conduction
- The greater the compliance (less stiff), the slower the propagation of the pressure pulse
What is the effect of vasoconstriction on the arterial diastolic blood pressure?
Increases
What is the effect of vasoconstriction on the capillary hydrostatic blood pressure?
Decreases
More blood remains in the arterial system per unit time
What is the effect of vasodilation on the arterial diastolic pressure?
Decreases
Vasodilation means increased sympathetic tone
What is the effect of vasodilation on the capillary hydrostatic pressure?
Increases
This is due to teh increased blood volume flow
What is the effect of increased sympathetic tone on the arteriolar diameter?
When sympathetic tone increases, vasodilation occurs
What is the effect of decreased sympathetic tone on the arteriolar diameter?
When sympathetic tone decreases, vasoconstriction occurs
What is the mechanism of vasoconstriction with increased sympathetic tone?
- Alpha-1 receptors are stimulated
- Resistance is increased
- Blood profusion is decreased in the periphery
- This increases the diastolic pressure
- The slope of the curve decreases
- Capillary pressure decreases
What is the mechanism of vasodilation with decreased sympathetic tone?
- Reduced alpha-1 receptor activation
- Increased blood flow due to vasodilation
- Diastolic pressure decreases
- The slope of the pressure curve increases
- Calcium channel blockers will cause edema
- Capillary pressure increases
How does the parasympathetic nervous system contribute to the control of vessel diameter?
Innervation has no effects on vessel diameter, this is mainly controlled by sympathetic tone
What are the four medullary cardiovascular centers that are important in controlling blood pressure?
1 - Vasoconstrictor centers
2 - Vasodilator centers
3 - Cardioexcitatory centers
4 - Cardioinhibitory centers
What are vasoconstrictor centers?
Pressure centers
They are groups of cells that, when stimulated, result in vasoconstriction of the arterioles
What are vasodilator centers?
Depressor centers
They are groups of cells that, when stimulated, result in vasodilation of the arterioles
What are cardioexcitatory centers?
A group of cells that, when stimulated, cause an increase in the sympathetic activity and therefore increase the heart rate, contractability and conduction velocity of action potentials
Beta-1 receptors are activated in this case
What are cardioinhibitory centers?
A group of cells that, when stimulated, increase vagus tone, which therefore decreases the heart rate
What is the effect of an acute decrease in arterial blood pressure on the vasoconstrictor centers?
When the blood pressure drops, the vasoconstrictor centers are activated
This occurs by reduced baroreceptor inhibitory signals, which also function to inhibit the vasodilator center
What will inhibiting the vasodilator center do??
It will also inhibit the cardioinhibitory center
Is the vasoconstrictor center typically inhibited or activated?
Inhibited
By removing inhibition, there is activation
Why would the vessels constrict in this case?
To raise arteriolar blood pressure
Once the vasoconstrictor center is activated, what else becomes activated?
The cardioexcitatory center
This is sympathetic activity within the heart, so what will the effect on the heart be?
Increased heart rate and increased force of contraction
There is another effect of inhibiting the cardioinhibitory center. What is it?
Decreased parasympathetic tone (vagus)
What is the effect of an acute increase in arterial blood pressure on the vasoconstrictor centers?
When the blood pressure increases, the vasoconstrictor center is inhibited
This occurs by increased stimulation of baroreceptors
Does this mean there is more or less sympathetic stimulation?
Less sympathetic stimulation, which therefore results in activation of the vasodilator center