Coordinated CVS responses: Gravity & Exercise Flashcards
How are the everyday demands of life met through the CVS?
Many components of the CVS coordinate together to produce the everyday demands of life
adaptation by integration - small responses create a larger effect
What is orthostasis?
Standing up
How does CVS respond to orthostasis?
On standing up, CVS changes accordingly to the effect of gravity
- BP falls at first
- postural hypotension, lack of blood flow to brain = faint
- Quickly recovers
- due to homeostatic mechanism e.g. baroreflex
How does baroreflexes increase BP?
Increases BP by integrating 3 smaller changes by increasing:
- Heart rate
- Heart contractility
- Total peripheral resistance
What is the effect of gravity on BP when lying down?
Lying down, pressure is the same at the head and the feet
How does BP change due to the effect of gravity during orthostasis?
When standing up blood pools at the feet increasing pressure
Outline Bernoulli’s Law
Blood flow = pressure energy + potential energy + kinetic energy
Using Bernoulli’s Law, describe the pressure change due to gravity during orthostasis
Increased potential energy but slightly lower pressure at the heart level compared to the feet
Increased kinetic energy of ejected blood
What is meant by total energies?
Total energies means the blood flow from the heart to the feet
How is pressure calculated?
pressure = phg
p- fluid density
h - height
g - gravitational acceleration constant
What does magnitude of pressure depend upon?
Pressure is dependent on the height of the fluid column, the density of the fluid and gravity
What is the high pressure at the feet caused by?
The high pressure in the venous system at the feet is due to hydrostatic pressure
Why are veins described as the capacitance levels of the body?
Store most of the blood volume
Why do arteries have higher pressure than veins?
Arteries are muscular and under sympathetic tone
- have higher pressure which distends at the bottom –> blood pools at feet
What is hypotension caused by?
Hypotension (decreased CVP) caused by orthostasis
Describe how Hypotension occurs due to orthostasis
orthostasis causes a fall in CVP -> decreased EDV -> LV stretched less -> Contracts less -> less CO -> Decreased BP -> poorer perfusion of brain => dizziness and fainting
Describe the reflex response to orthostasis
- Less stimulation (unloading) of baroreceptors due to
less LV stretching - Lower afferent fibre activity to NTS
- Switches off inhibitory nerves from CVLM to RVLM
- Results in RVLM being more active, sending efferent
signals to the heart - Increased sympathetic drive to SA node and increased
HR.
Myocardium increased contractility, vasoconstriction
(arterioles, veins) increases TPR.
Less vagal parasympathetic activity to SA node
- overall BP increased
What can cause postural hypotension to be worsened?
- Generalised sympathetic or 𝛼 adrenergic blockade
- drugs that reduce vascular tone
e.g.
side effect with VGCC blockers used to treat
hypotension, angina etc.
What is a varicose vein?
enlarged / torturous vein
What are the consequences of varicose veins?
- impairs venous return
- valves become compromised
- blood pooling in legs worsen
- lack of skeletal muscle activity due to paralysis or forced
inactvity (e,g. long term bed rest, soldiers on guard)
What can cause a reduction in circulating blood volume?
Haemorrhage
How is core temperature increased?
Peripheral vasodilation, less blood volume available
e.g. standing up after a bath
What is a major difference in the effect of blood volume distribution between gravity and microgravity?
In microgravity, it doesn’t matter if you’re standing up or lying down
- less need of ANS, RAAS, ADH, ANP systems to control
BP
- redistribution of blood into chest region
What are the initial effects of microgravity?
Blood doesn’t pool at feet
Returns to heart easily - increased preload, increased AV volume sensed by cardiac mechanoreceptors (Starling’s law)
Decreased sympathetic nerve activity (RAAS, ADH, & increased GFR, ANP and diuresis) = 20% reduction in blood volume
= heart muscle becomes weaker