Control of Blood Flow Flashcards
What three things mainly control TPR?
→Poiseulle’s Law
→ myogenic response
→blood viscosity
What does an increase in resistance mean?
→ Pressure must be increased to maintain the same flow
What is the equation for blood flow? (CO)
→ Pressure gradient / TPR
What is hypertension?
→ over constriction of arterioles
→ Higher arterial BP but less capillary flow - under perfusion
What are the changes in blood flow when sedentary?
→ Superior mesenteric dilated
increased flow to intestines
→ Common Iliac constricted
decreased flow to legs
What are the changes in blood flow when exercising?
→Superior mesenteric constricted
decreased flow to intestines
→ Common iliac dilated
increased flow to legs
What does Poiseuille’s Law describe?
Parameters that govern TPR
→Illustrates why the radius of a vessel is such an important determinant in changing blood flow.
What is the state of the BP and blood flow in arteries and arterioles in a normal situation?
→In a normal situation, the arteries have a greater BP than the arterioles.
→The pressure drop between the arteries and arterioles causes blood flow.
What is the state of BP and blood flow when the arterioles are dilated?
→With the arterioles dilated, there is a decrease in TPR.
→These leads to decreased BP upstream, but greater blood flow.
What is the state of BP and blood flow when the arterioles are constricted?
→With the arterioles constricted, there is an increase in TPR.
→ This leads to increased BP upstream, but less blood flow.
What is the equation for conductance ?
Conductance (G) = (πr^4)/(8ηL)
r: radius of vessel
η: blood viscosity
L: vessel length
(blood vessel radius to the power of 4 controls TPR
What is Poiseuille’s and Darcy’s Law combined?
→CO = Pa - CVP x (πr^4)/(8ηL)
What is the r^4 effect ?
→Double the radius of vessel 2 compared to vessel 1
→ The change in r^4 is 16 x
→ 16x greater flow in vessel 2 as flow is proportional to r^4
How do vasoconstrictors or dilators have large effects on blood flow?
→ Vasoconstrictors or dilators produce small changes in the vessel radius by affecting smooth muscle
→ these have large effects on blood flow
What is the pressure in arterioles?
→40-50 mmHg amongst vessels
→ largest pressure drop
What is the arteriole radius controlled by?
→ Tightly controlled by sympathetic nerves providing constant tone
→dilate and constrict
What parameters is TPR controlled by?
→ Radius r^4
→ Pressure difference across vessels (P1-P2)
→ Length (L)
Why do arterioles control TPR and not capillaries?
→ Capillaries are arranged in parallel so they have a low total resistance
→ R total = 1/R1 + 1/R2
→ arterioles are in series so total resistance is greater
→ R total = R1+R2
→No sympathetic innervation/smooth muscle in capillaries so cannot alter radius.
→Less resistance is capillaries because bolus flow reduces viscosity