Blood Vessels Flashcards
The tunica media is a continuation of what layer of the heart?
Myocardium
The tunica adventitia is a continuation of what layer of the heart?
Epicardium (visceral pericardium)
What are three categories of arteries?
Elastic, muscular, and arterioles
What is another name for elastic arteries?
Conducting arteries
What is the tunica intima structure of elastic arteries?
Attenuated endothelium
Thin/incomplete internal elastic lamina
Thicker connective tissue with elastic fibers, collagen type I, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle
What is the tunica media structure of elastic arteries?
Fenestrated sheets of elastic fibers with some collagen type I and smooth muscle
Thin external elastic lamina is possible
Outer portion typically contains vasa vasorum
What is vasa vasorum?
Small blood vessels supplying the large blood vessel
What is the tunica adventitia structure of elastic arteries?
Loose fibroelastic connective tissue
Numerous vasa vasorum
What is the thickest/most dominant layer of an elastic artery?
Tunica media
What is another term for muscular arteries?
Distributing arteries
What is the tunica intima structure in muscular arteries?
Endothelium
Very thin
Some connective tissue (few smooth muscle cells possible)
Internal elastic lamina
What type of artery has a uniquely thin tunica intima?
Muscular arteries
What is the tunica media structure of muscular arteries?
Circular smooth muscle
Gap junctions between smooth muscle cells
Elastic and reticular fibers, chondroitin sulfate
External elastic lamina possible
Richly innervated with sympathetics (strong contraction over a small area)
What is the thickest and most dominant layer of the muscular artery?
Tunica media
What is the tunica adventitia structure of muscular arteries?
Fibroelastic connective tissue with sulfated GAGs
Fibroblasts
Vasa vasorum present
What is the tunica media of muscular arteries primarily made of?
Smooth muscle
What are the smallest arteries?
Arterioles
Overall, arterioles are very structurally similar to what kind of artery?
Muscular
What is the tunica adventitia of arterioles primarily made of?
Connective tissue
What is the tunica media of arterioles primarily made of?
Smooth muscle
What is significant about the lumen size of arterioles?
Usually about the same width as the vessel wall
Is the tunica media the thickest and most dominant layer of all types of arteries?
Yes
What type of artery has the most developed internal elastic lamina?
Muscular artery
Which is the thinnest of the major luminal wall layers in arteries?
Tunica intima
What effect does aging have on elastic arteries?
Width increases into your 20s
Number of elastic laminae increase in the tunica media
What effect does aging have on muscular arteries?
Collagen and proteoglycans increase after middle age so there is a decrease in flexibility
Which specific muscular arteries are largely affected by aging leading to decreased flexibility?
Coronary arteries
What is the artery-based reason for increased systolic blood pressure around the age of 50?
Decreased elastic fibers and increased collagen type I
What arteries are usually affected by arteriosclerosis?
The largest ones
What happens to the tunica intima during arteriosclerosis?
Becomes infiltrated with soft lipid causing lumen diameter to decrease
What happens to the tunica media during arteriosclerosis?
Accumulation of collagen type I and sulfated GAGs
The tunica intima is a continuation of what layer of the heart?
Endocardium
What part of the artery increases in width and results in a decreased lumen size during atherosclerosis?
Tunica intima
What is a short terminal arteriole branch that lacks a true tunica media?
Metarteriole
Metarterioles lead to what other vessels?
Capillaries and a thoroughfare channel that leads to venules
What structures control blood flow into the capillaries?
Pre-capillary sphincters
What is the purpose of pre-capillary sphincters?
Allow blood to pulse through true capillaries
Where are metarterioles found?
In all capillary beds
How are the vessel walls different in the arteriovenous anastomoses?
Thicker tunica media and tunica adventitia
What innervates the AVA?
Many ANS nerves (sympathetic and parasympathetic)
What is the function of the arteriovenous anastomoses?
To control the lumen size and therefore the amount of blood in the capillaries
What are the major locations of AVAs?
Skin and stomach (also erectile tissues)