blood vessels Flashcards
1
Q
types of blood vessels
A
- arteries/arterioles
- veins/venules
- capillaries
2
Q
arteries
A
- large blood vessels
- carry blood away
- thick muscular and elastic walls
- high pressure
- blood travels in spurts (pulse)
3
Q
pulse
A
- contraction of heart that forces blood through arteries
- artery expands, brief bulge called a pulse
- determine heart rate by counting pulse (bpm)
4
Q
where can pulse be measured
A
- carotid artery (neck)
- radial artery (wrist)
5
Q
veins
A
- deoxygenated blood (CO2) return to heart through veins
- thinner and less muscular
- low blood pressure, v slow movement of blood
6
Q
what mechanisms help blood move to heart
A
- gravity
- muscle contractions
- venous valves
7
Q
venous valves
A
- alternately open and close
- prevent backflow
- causes varicose veins if function impeded
8
Q
capillaries
A
- smallest blood vessel in body
- form networks to supply O2 and nutrients to every cell in body
- RBC to travel in single file line
- made of thin, single layer of cells
- blood pressure nearly zero
- blood moves slow to allow exchange (nutrients and oxygen to cells/tissue, waste and CO2 to RBC)
9
Q
blood pressure
A
- measured w/ sphygmomanometer
- inflatable cuff wrapped around brachial artery (arm) until blood flow stops
- as pressure releases, sensors sense vibrations
- 1st reading is systolic (heart contraction)
- 2nd reading is diastolic (heart relaxed)
10
Q
what happens when blood pressure is consistently high?
A
- hypertension
- forces heart to work harder to push blood around body
