Circulatory System Overview Flashcards
Cardiovascular system
. Transports blood throughout body
Lymphatic system
. Transports lymph from the body’s tissues to venous system
Atherosclerosis
. Build up of cholesterol plaques in arteries
. Form of arteriosclerosis
. Lead to thrombus that can occlude artery or enter bloodstream to block smaller vessels (embolus)
Aneurysm
Bulging of arterial walls
Aortic dissection
Tearing of vessel wall w/ blood flowing between layers of vessel
Varicose veins
Bulging of venous walls
Thrombosis
Formation of blood clots
Layers of arteries and veins
. tunica intima: innermost endothelium
. Tunica media: intermediate smooth muscle layer w/ collagen and elastic fibers
. Tunica adventitia: outermost CT layer
Large arteries
. Directly receive cardiac output are have v high pressure
. High collagen and numbers of elastic filaments in tunica media allow it to stretch w/ cardiac output
Medium arteries
. Muscular/distributing aa.
. Smaller vessels that draw blood from elastic arteries
. Able to vasoconstriction regulating blood flow to different regions
Small arteries
. Narrow lumen w/ thicker walls
. Distribute blood to arterioles
Arterioles
. Regulate blood flow into capillary beds by constricting or dilating
. Not named
Anastomoses
. Connections between multiple arterial branches that provide potential detours for blood flow more distal in case normal pathways are interrupted (collateral circulation)
Terminal arteries
. Don’t anastomose w/ anything
. Only supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue
Arteriosclerosis
Thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls
Veins compared with arteries in blood volume
. Veins more numerous and variable than arteries
. 60-80% blood volume in veins
. Larger lumina and thinner walls
Venae comitantes (accompanying veins)
. 2+ veins with single artery that form branching network around artery
. Arrangement plus gravity and extrinsic muscular contractions propel venous blood forward (arteriovenous pump)
Venues
Smallest veins that drain capillary beds (unnamed)
Small and medium veins
. Drain venous plexuses and accompany medium arteries
. Medium located in limbs w/ venous valves
Large veins
. Receive blood from medium veins
. Valves variable
. 1 large vein per 1 large artery
Blood capillaries
. Arranged I capillary beds w/in tissue
. Site of gas and nutrient exchange btw blood vessels and body tissues
. Composed of single layer endothelium
. Blood capillaries connect arterioles and venules
Arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA)
. Direct connections btw arterioles and venules in some regions
. Blood bypasses capillaries to pass directly from arterial to venous circulation
. also called shunts, popular in skin o conserve body heat
Portal venous system
. Links 2 capillary beds so blood passes through 2 capillary beds before returning to heart
Pulmonary circulation
. Low O2 blood returns from system circulation to RA -> RV -> pulmonary arteries to lungs -> pulmonary vein -> LA