Chapter 21: Blood Vessels and Circulation Flashcards
Angiogram
An x-ray of the blood vessel that becomes visible due to a prior injection of dye into the subject’s bloodstream.
Carotid Sinus Massage
A procedure that involves rubbing the large part of the arterial wall at the point where the common carotid artery divides into its two main branches.
Intermittent Claudication
A limp that results from cramping leg pain that is typically caused by obstruction of the arteries.
Korotkoff Sounds
Distinctive sounds, caused by turbulent arterial blood flow, heard through the stethoscope while measuring blood pressure.
Normotensive
Having normal BP
Orthostatic Hypotension
A form of low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up form sitting or lying down. It can cause dizziness or a light-headed feeling.
Phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein.
Raynaud Phenomenon
A condition resulting in the discoloration of the fingers and/or the toes when a person is subjected to changes in temperature or to emotional stress.
Sclerotherapy
The treatment of varicose veins in which an irritant is injected to cause inflammation, coagulation of blood, and a narrowing of the blood vessel wall.
Sphygmomanometer
A device that measures blood pressure using the inflatable cuff placed around a limb.
Syncope
A temporary loss of consciousness due to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Thrill
A vibration felt in a blood vessel that usually occurs due to abnormal blood flow. It is also often noticed at the fistula of a hemodialysis patient.
Thrombophlebitis
An inflammation in a vein associated with the formation of a thrombus (clot).
Vascular Murmu
Periodic abnormal sounds heard upon auscultation that are produced as a result of turbulent blood flow.
White Coat Hypertension
A short-term increase in blood pressure triggered by the sight of medical personnel in which coats or other medical attire.
Aneurysm
A weakening in the arterial wall causing an outpouching or enlargement of the artery.
Aortic Bodies
Receptors in the aortic arch that are sensitive to changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels in the blood.
Aortic Sinus
Space between the superior portion of each of the three aortic valve cusps and the dilated portion of the wall of ascending aorta.
Artery
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart and toward a peripheral capillary.
Arterioles
A small arterial branch that delivers blood to capillary network.
Atherosclerosis
The formation of fatty plaques in the walls of arteries, restricting blood flow.
Autoregulation
Changes in activity that maintain homeostasis in direct response to changes in the local environment; does not require neural or endocrine control.
Bainbridge Reflex
The reflexive increase in heart rate after an increase in venous return; due to mechanical and neural factors; also called atrial reflex.
Baroreceptor Reflexes
A reflexive change in cardiac activity in response to changes in blood pressure.
Blood Pressure (BP)
A force exerted against vessel walls by the blood in the vessels due to the push exerted by cardiac contraction and the elasticity of the vessel walls; usually measured along one of the muscular arteries, with systolic pressure measured during ventricular systole (contraction) and diastole pressure during ventricular diastole (relaxation).
Capillary
A small blood vessel, located between an arteriole and a venule, whose thin wall permits the diffusion of gases, nutrients, and wastes between plasma and interstitial fluids.
Cardiovascular (CV) Center
Poorly localized area in the reticular formation of the medulla oblongata of the brain; includes cardioacceleratory, cardioinhibitory, and vasomotor centers.
Carotid Body
A group of receptors, adjacent to a carotid sinus, that are sensitive to changes in the carbon dioxide levels, pH, and oxygen concentrations of arterial blood.
Carotid Sinuses
A dilated segment at the base of the internal carotid artery whose walls contain baroreceptors sensitive to changes in blood pressure.
Diastolic Pressure
Pressure measured in the walls of a muscular artery when the left ventricle is in diastole (relaxation).
Ductus Arteriosus
A vascular connection between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta that functions throughout fetal life; normally closes at birth or shortly thereafter and persists as the ligamentum arteriosum.
Filtration
The movement of a fluid across a membrane whose pores restrict the passage of solutes on the basis of size.
Hepatic Portal Veins
The vessel that carries blood from the intestinal capillaries to the sinusoids of the liver.
Hypertension (HTN)
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC)
The vein that carries blood from the parts of the body inferior to the heart to the right atrium.
Lumen
The central space within a duct or other internal passageway.
Net Filtration Pressure (NFP)
The difference between the net hydrostatic pressure and the net osmotic pressure.
Osmotic Pressure (OP)
The force of osmotic water movement; the pressure that must be applied to prevent osmosis across a membrane.
Respiratory Pump
A mechanism by which changes in the intrapleural pressures during the respiratory cycle assist the venous return to the heart; also called thoracoabdominal pump.
Superior Vena Cava (SVC)
The vein that carries blood to the right atrium from parts of the body that are superior to the heart.
Systolic Pressure
The peak arterial pressure measured during ventricular systole.
Vasoconstriction
A reduction in the diameter of arterioles due to the contraction of smooth muscles in the tunica media; increases peripheral resistance; may occur in response to local factors through the action of hormones, or form the stimulation of the vasomotor center.
Vasodilation
An increase in the diameter of arterioles due to the relaxation of smooth muscles in the tunica media; decreases peripheral resistance; may occur in response to local factors through the action of hormones, or after decreased stimulation of the vasomotor center.
Vasomotion
Rhythmic changes in the pattern of blood flow through a capillary bed due to the alternate contraction and relaxation of precapillary sphincters.
Vein
A blood vessel carrying blood from a capillary bed toward the heart.
Venule
Thin-walled veins that receive blood from capillaries.
