Circulation Flashcards
Name the 3 parts of the circulation
- Resistance part (Arteries)
- Exchange area (Capillaires)
- Reservoir (Veins)
Location of resistance part of the circulation
Left ventricle → Capillary bed
Location of the exchange area of the circulation
Locations of bidirectional transport of material
Location of the reservoir system of the circulation
Venules → Right atrium
Under normal conditions, the largest part of blood volume is located in…
The reservoir system
Describe the structure of an artery
- Muscular
- Elastic
- Thick walled
Describe the structure of an arteriole
- Muscular
- Little connective tissue
Describe the structure of a capillary
- Endothelial layer
- No muscle
Describe the structure of a venule
- Thin walls
- Some smooth muscle
Describe the structure of a vein
- Thin-walled
- Smooth muscle
- Flacid
The resistance part is composed of…
- Elastic arteries
- Muscular arteries
- Arterioles
Elastic arteries
- Aorta & large arteries
- Loaction of passive contraction (due to elastic elements)
Muscular arteries are the sites of…
- Regulated resistance
- Smooth muscle → active contraction
Arterioles
- Most important part of regulated resistance
During diastole, the aorta…
Passively contracts
‘Windkessel’ function of the aorta
- A simple pump with a closed air buffer
- Storage of pressure in the Windkessel
- Results in a near-constant pressure
What is the location of capillary exchange?
Area of microcirculation
List the types of capillary
- Continuous
- Fenestrated
- Porous
- Sinusoid
Location of continuous capillaries
- Muscle
- Skin
- CNS
- Lung
Location of the fenestrated capillaries
- Intestinal mucosa
- Endocrine glands
Location of the porous capillaries
Glomeruli of the kidney
Describe the structure of continuous capillaries
- Endothelium (Inside layer)
- Lamin basalis
- Pericytes (Outside layer)
Sinusoid capillaries lack…
Pericytes
Disse-space
Location of sinusoid capillaries
- Liver
- Haemopoietic organs
What limits the enlargement of veins?
Collagen
List the types of Venule
- Postcapillary venule
- Collecting venule
- Muscular venule
The function of venules is determined by…
The structure of the wall and valves
Potential energy
The pressure exerted onto the wall of the container (vessels)
Kinetic energy =
1/2 m x v2
Cause of energy loss in circulation
Flow friction
Resistance is determined by…
Flow rate
Kinetic energy =
Total energy - Potential energy
- Pitot-system
Narrowing of blood vessels causes….
- A increase of kinetic energy
- A decrease of potential energy
Viscosity is higher in…
Larger vessels
(Fahraeus-Lindquist effect)
The viscosity of blood is a function of…
The hematocrit value
Factors maintaining the BP in Arteries
- Work of heart
- Total peripheral resistance (TPR)
- Distribution of blood
- Types of blood flow
Runoff (Qr)
Volume of blood which moves from:
Arterial part → Venous part
The artificial increase in work of the heart is by…
Pacemakers
The natural increase in work of the heart is by…
Sympathetic activation
Increase in TPR causes…
Increase of blood pressure
What allows arteries to distend?
- Elastic elements
- Myogenic elements
Critical closing pressure
Pressure where vessels are collapsing
Arterial distensibility
- Volume change related to pressure change related to the original volume
- D = dV / dP x Va
What is compliance?
Volume change per unit pressure change
When is distensibility used for blood pressure?
If different circulations are compared
When is compliance used for blood pressure?
When absolute change is of interest
Compliance decreases with…
Age
Law of Laplace related to blood vessels
- In order to maintain BP
- There should be an increase in wall tension
An increase in arterial volume causes…
An increase of blood pressure
Parallel attachment of organs is beneficial because…
Changes in perfusion of one organ don’t suddenly change the work of the heart
Examples of serially coupled elements of the circulation
- Arteries
- Capillaries
- Veins
Perfusion
- Flow of volume
- Determined by Ohm’s law
Reynolds number =
Laminar blood flow
Re<2320
Turbulent flow
Re>2320
The physiological relevance of laminar flow
- Low resistance, less work of the heart
- Blood cells arranged in the axis of the flow
Capillary blood pressure is maintained by…
Microcirculation
Factors maintaining venous blood pressure
- Gravitation
- ‘Vis a tergo’ (work of the heart)
- Valves
- Skeletal muscle pump
- Central venous pressure (CVP)
Skeletal muscle pump
- Muscle tension pumps blood
- Valves cause centripetal flow
- Weak muscle tension → Blood accumulation → Increased pressure → Oedema
Pressure changes in chest and abdomen
- Inspiration → Intrathoracic pressure decreases (RA fills)
- Abdominal pressure → Transmural pressure of veins in abdomen
Peripheral blood pressure is maintained by…
Cardiovascular regulatory mechanism
Static pressure
- Blood pressure measured post mortem
- Approx 7mmHg
Blood pressure above and below the heart
- Higher below the heart
- Lower above the heart
Pulse pressure
Systolic pressure - Diastolic pressure
- e.g 120 - 80 = 40 mmHg
Mean arterial pressure
- Weighted average of the systolic and diastolic pressure
- Diastole 2 times longer than systole, therefore:
- (Psyst + (2xP diast)) /3
Relationship of blood pressure and body size
Types of blood pressure measurement
- Direct method
- Indirect method
- Palpation
- Auscultation
Direct blood pressure measurement
- Glass catheter inserted into carotis
- Height of fluid volume measured
Palpation blood pressure measurement
- Closing a BP cuff
- Opening and recording Systolic BP when a pulse is felt
Cannot measure diastolic pressure
Auscultation blood pressure measurement
- Closing cuff around an arm
- Opening cuff and listening for first pulse (Systolic pressure)
- Continue opening, listening for the sound to stop (Diastolic pressure)
What is the diagram?
What is indicated?
Pressure pulse
- Anacrotic limb
Steepness
Pulse pressure
Dicrotic notch
Catacrotic limb