Arterial system Flashcards
why does the surface area of the vessels increase as you go peripherally?
it increases for exchange of gases
what are the three main layers of the arteries?
- Tunica Intima
- Tunica Media
- Tunica Adventitia
*
What is the contractile portion of the vascular wall?
tunica media
replacement of elastin by collagen in the arteries of the elderly happens at what layer of the artery?
Tunica Media
Elastic Recoil helps maintain what?
helps maintain flow in diastole
what section of vessels acts as the ‘control valves’ to the tissues?
the Arterioles
what happens to the smooth muscle cells when we increase pressure in vessels?
they contract - to maintain flow of blood at a steady rate
what is the difference between reactive and active hyperaemia?
reactive hyperaemia= after occlusion of blood flow (a tendency to hypoxia) - when you reinstate the blood flow you actually have an increased flow of blood to that tissue- because when you’re hypoxic metabolites like H+, lactic acid, and CO2 all accumulate in the area and temporarily increase blood flow to the tissue
Reactive hyperaemia = when you’re exercising and you require more oxygen to particular muscles, blood flow will increase
what is the myogenic mechanism of autoregulation of blood flow
increaed blood pressure in the vessels to another tissue - we don’t want the blood tissue to change drastically every time we move, so the vessels contract and maintains a normal blood flow to the area
What are the extrinsic regulators of peripheral blood flow?
parasympathetic and sympathetic mechanisms
sympathetic NS = alpha receptor activation on arterial smooth msucle celles mediate vasoconstriction
parasympathetics = absent in most tissues, but Ach causes NO dependent vasodilation
what is the Arterial Pulse?
Volume of blood ejected into arterial system results in
pressure rise transmitted as wave down arterial wall at
rate averaging about 7 m/sec. and felt as pulsation of
radial or other accessible artery
what is the maximum pressure called?
systolic = should be around 120mmHg
what is the pulse pressure?
it is systolic -diastolic
what causes the dicrotic notch (incisera)? on an arterial pressure trace
the ventricular valves close causing a backpressure causing a notch in the trace
how do you calculate the mean systemic arterial pressure?
= diastolic + 1/3 pulse pressure (to account for the notch)
what are the determinants of the arterial blood pressure?
preload (venous return)
heart rate
contractility
afterload (PR)