Blood Pressure Physiology

Question 1

Blood pressure MOI
-systole
-diastole
Describe blood movement
Why is arterial elasticity important

Answer 1

Systole - ventricular contraction => aorta and arteries store pressure in elastic walls

Diastole - ventricular relaxation => aorta and arteries recoil and push blood through vasculature

Elastic nature of vessels ensures that the pressure differences aren’t massive

Question 2

What determines mean arterial blood pressure

-what can modulate MABP?

Answer 2

Blood volume
-fluid changes

Cardiac output
-HR x SV

Afterload
-arterial diameter

All increased by RAAS, SNS

Question 3

Prevalence of HTN

Answer 3

Increases with age - isolated high systolic pressure common
-pulse pressure increases

Systolic increases
Diastolic decreases

Question 4

What determines pulse pressure

-why does the systolic increase and diastolic fall

Answer 4

Elasticity
CO

Increased stiffness => decreased diastolic
-increased speed of pressure distribution increasingly
increased speed of pressure distribution increasingly coincides with systolic peak => increased systolic

Question 5

Why is increased pulse pressure dangerous

Answer 5

Higher systolic => higher afterload

Lower diastolic => lower coronary perfusion

Question 6

Risks of HTN

Answer 6

Stroke
MI
HF
Renal failure
Dementia