Cardiovascular L5/6: Blood vessel function and determinants of flow; Blood vessel properties - arteries and arterioles Flashcards
What is the main function of blood vessels? (Name 5 functions)
‘Vascular highways’ that transport blood around the body to meet demands:
- Oxygen delivery
- Nutrient delivery (GIT –> bloodstream)
- Waste removal (CO2 after aerobic metabolism)
- Chemical messenger delivery (e.g. hormones- produced in another organ- travels via bloodstream)
- Maintain body temperature (cold: periphery constrict; hot: periphery dilate)
Arteries transport blood ____ (into/out of) the heart
out of
Arterioles regulate the flow of blood _____ (into/out of) tissues
into
Capillaries _______ substances in blood (nutrients, gases, hormones) with tissues
exchange
Venules carry away the waste _____ tissues. The venule starts to become a _____.
from; vein
Veins transport blood ______ the heart
into
What is the pulmonary circulation? List the 3 steps
- Oxygenated blood from left side of heart goes to systemic arterial circulation
- supplies various tissues
- deoxygenated blood returns via systemic veins to right side of heart
What is the systemic circulation?
- Deoxygenated blood from right side of heart goes to pulmonary arterial circulation
- gas exchange in lungs
- oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to le] side of heart
Is the blood oxygenated or deoxygenated in arteries in the systemic circulation?
Oxygenated
Is the blood oxygenated or deoxygenated in arteries in the pulmonary circulation?
Deoxygenated
Is the blood oxygenated or deoxygenated in veins in the systemic circulation?
Deoxygenated
Is the blood oxygenated or deoxygenated in veins in the pulmonary circulation?
Oxygenated
How is blood distributed around the body? 3 characteristics.
- Parallel arrangement of vessels from the aorta ensures fresh blood to all organs
- More blood goes to organs that are responsible for ‘reconditioning’ blood
- Other organs receive just enough blood to meet needs & therefore ‘less tolerant’ of reductions in blood flow – e.g. the brain
_______ arrangement of vessels from the aorta ensures fresh blood to all organs
Parallel
More blood goes to organs that are responsible for _______ the blood. Give examples of 2 organs.
‘reconditioning’
Eg.
- kidneys-waste control (20%)
- digestive system (20%)- able to go lomger without blood because there is less.
Other organs receive _______ blood to meet needs & therefore ‘_____ (more/less) tolerant’ of reductions in blood flow. Give an example of an organ.
just enough; less
- Brain
- Only 4 mins without oxygen before irreversible damage
How much (L) is the average cardiac output?
5L/min
Blood flow to each organ can be changed independently. True or false.
True
What is flow rate?
volume per unit of time
Flow rate is ______ (directly proportional/inversely proportional) to pressure gradient.
directly proportional
F ∝ ΔP/R
F = flow rate
ΔP = pressure gradient
R =resistance
Flow rate is ______ (directly proportional/inversely proportional) to vessel resistance.
inversely proportional
F ∝ ΔP/R
F = flow rate
ΔP = pressure gradient
R =resistance
What is a pressure gradient (ΔP)?
Difference between the start & end of a vessel
What are 3 characteristics of a pressure gradient (ΔP)?
- Difference between the start & end of a vessel
- Blood flows down a pressure gradient, from high to low
- Contraction of heart is the main driving force for blood flow
Blood flows down a pressure gradient, from ___ (high/low) to _____ (high/low).
high; low
________ of heart is the main driving force for blood flow
Contraction
* The aorta has very high pressure (main driving force of blood)
How is blood flow affected by pressure gradient (ΔP)?
- The greater the ΔP, the greater the flow
- Pressure is lower at the end of a vessel because of frictional loss (resistance) along vessel length
How does the pressure gradient change from the start to the end?
Start –> high pressure
Further down –> low pressure
Even further down –> meets arterioles (due to decreased radius)
Flow is determined by the pressure difference between the ____ and the ____ of a vessel - not the _____ pressures!
start; end; absolute
The greater the ΔP, the ______ (greater/lesser) the flow
greater
Pressure is lower at the end of a vessel because of ____________ along vessel length
frictional loss (resistance)
Is blood flow the same between these vessels?
Yes, doesn’t matter what the absolute, start and end pressures are.
ΔP= has an effect
How is blood flow affected by R?
- The greater the R, the lower the flow
- Resistance is directly proportional to viscosity of blood & length of vessel, &inversely proportional to radius of vessel which has the greatest impact
R ∝ ηL / r4
where η = blood viscosity
L = vessel length
r = vessel radius
(L and r = surface area)
What is resistance (R)?
Opposition to blood flow caused by friction between blood flow &vascular walls
The greater the R, the ______ (higher/lower) the flow
lower
Resistance is _________ (directly proportional/inversely proportional) to viscosity of blood & length of vessel. However, resistance is _________ (directly proportional/inversely proportional) to radius of vessel which has the greatest impact
directly proportional; inversely proportional