Cardiovascular System Flashcards
1
Q
Tunica Intima Layers
A
- Endothelium
- Basal Lamina
- Subendothelial CT
- Internal elastic lamina
- Composed of elastin
- Fenestrated
- Seperates intima from media in arteries
- Most prominant in muscular arteries
2
Q
Tunica Media
A
- Usually the thickest layer in arteries
- Contains circularly arranged smooth muscle
- Contraction narrows lumen
- Contains elastic fibers, reticular fibers, & proteoglycans
- All produced by smooth muscle cells
- In capillaries and post-capillary venules, layer is replaced by pericytes
-
External elastic lamina
- Seperates media from adventitia
- Most prominent in muscular arteries
- Fenestrated
3
Q
Tunica Adventitia
A
- Longitudinally oriented collagen and elastic fibers
- Primarily type I collagen
- Blends into surrounding CT
- Contains autonomic nerves that enter tunia media and innervate smooth muscle
- In thick vessels, contains small blood vessels called vasa vasorum
- Nourish adventitia & media of vessels too thick for diffusion
- More frequent in veins than arteries
4
Q
Vasculature Innervation
A
- Smooth muscle in tunica media of most organs innervated by sympathetic fibers that release norepinephrine
- Causes sympathetic vasoconstriction response
- More prevalent in arteries than veins
- Most common in skin and kidneys
-
Skeletal muscle blood vessels innervated by sympathetic fibers that release acetylcholine
- Causes sympathetic vasodilator response
-
Parasympathetic fibers innervate very few organs
- Salivary glands
- Erectile tissue of penis
- Release acetylcholine, nitric oxide, and other co-transmitters
- Causes parasympathetic vasodilator response
5
Q
Endothelial Cell
Functions
A
- Permeability barrier
- Secrete type IV collagen and laminin for basement membrane
- Synthesize clotting molecules
- von Willebrand factor
- Secrete vasoactive factors that control blood flow
- Endothelin - vasoconstriction
- Nitric oxide - vasodilation
- Produce growth factors
- Fibroblasts growth factor (FGF
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Produce cell adhesion molecules that mediate acute inflammatory response
- Selectins
- Integrins
6
Q
Weibel-Palade Bodies
A
Rod-shaped membrane-bound organelles within endothelial cells used for storage.
E.g. von Willebrand factor, P-selectins.
Derived from Golgi.
7
Q
Pericytes
A
- Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells which surrounds capillaries and post-capillary venules.
- Differentiates into endothelial cells, smooth muscle, or fibroblasts.
- May be contractile.
- Branched cytoplasmic processes wrap around vessels.
8
Q
Arteries
A
- High pressure vessels transporting blood away from heart
- Tunica media is dominant layer
- Narrow lumen with thicker wall
- Two basic types of arteries:
-
Elastic arteries
- Aorta & pulmonary trunk
- Helps convert pulsatile blood flow to steadier flow via elastic recoil
-
Muscular arteries
- Distributing arteries
- Includes most of the named arteries of the body
- Distribute blood to specific organs as needed
-
Elastic arteries
9
Q
Arterioles
A
- Regulate blood pressure
- Regulate blood distribution to various organs & capillary beds
- Less than 5 layers of smooth muscle
-
Metarterioles
- smallest arterioles
- discontinuous layer of smooth muscle
10
Q
Capillaries
A
- Location of metabolic exchange
- Can be smaller than diameter of RBC
- Consist of a single layer of endothelium and a basal lamina
- Discontinuous layer of pericytes may be present
11
Q
Venules
A
- Smallest vessels of venous system
- Two types of venules:
-
Post-capillary venules
- Receive blood from capillaries
- Major site of WBC egress into extravascular tissues
-
Muscular venules
- Contains at least one complete layer of smooth muscle
-
Post-capillary venules
12
Q
Elastic Artery Structure
A
Aorta, pulmonary artery, etc.
-
Tunica intima
- Endothelium
- Subendothelial connective tissue
- Internal elastic lamina
-
Tunica media
- Layers of smooth muscle cells alternating with and attached to 40-60 fenestrated elastic laminae
- Vessels expand with systole and recoil with diastole
- Elasticity decreases with age
- Reticular fibers and ground substance
- No distinct external elastic lamina
- Layers of smooth muscle cells alternating with and attached to 40-60 fenestrated elastic laminae
-
Tunica Adventitia
- Loose network of collagen and elastic fibers
- Fibroblasts and macrophages predominant
- Contain vasa vasorum
- poorly defined outer boundary
13
Q
Muscular Artery Structure
A
-
Tunica Intima
- Endothelium
- Thinner subendothelial layer
- Prominent internal elastic lamina
- Appears scalloped if smooth muscle of media contracted
-
Tunica Media
- Up to 40 layers of circularly arranged smooth muscle cells
- Few elastic fibers
- External elastric lamina often fragmented into several thin layers that extend into adventitia
-
Tunica Adventitia
- Collagen and adipose
- Larger vessels have vasa vasorum
- Blends in with surrounding CT
14
Q
Arteriole Structure
A
- Endothelium
- +/- internal elastic lamina
- Tunica media only a few layers thick (call it less than 5)
- External elastic lamina typically absent
- Contains pre-capillary sphincters
15
Q
Metarterioles
A
- Smallest arterioles
- Discontinuous layers of smooth muscle
- Form preferential channels through capillary beds
- Arise from ordinary capillaries and drain into venules
- Contains precapillary sphincters