Exam 4: Blood Vessels Flashcards
Hypertension
blood pressure too high
•can damage blood vessels and lead to cardiovascular disease
Hypotension
blood pressure too low
- body deprived of nutrients
- may cause death if severe
What are the systems that help to maintain blood pressure?
endocrine
nervous
urinary
What are the 5 main types of vessels?
–Arteries
–Arterioles
–Capillaries
–Venules
–Veins
Where do Arteries carry blood?
AWAY from the heart
Where do veins carry the blood?
TO the heart
What are Capillaries?
microscopic, porous site of exchange
What are the 3 layers of vessel walls?
- Tunica intima
- Tunica media
- Tunica externa
how are blood vessels and their functions determined?
5 types of blood vessels and their functions are determined by which tunics they have
All vessels do not have all three tunics
Tunica Intima
–Inner lining in direct contact with blood
–Endothelium continuous with endocardial lining of heart
–Active role in vessel-related activities
Tunica Media
–Muscular and connective tissue layer
–Greatest variation among vessel types
–Smooth muscle regulates diameter of lumen
Tunica Externa
–Elastic and collagen fibers
–Vasa vasorum- tiny vessels that supply blood to other vessels
–Helps anchor vessel to surrounding tissue
Arteries
contain 3 layers (tunics) of typical blood vessel
Thick muscular-to-elastic tunica media
High compliance
Ability to change diameter
What does having a high compliance signify?
walls stretch and expand in response to pressure without tearing
Vasoconstriction
decrease in lumen diameter
Vasodialation
increase in lumen diameter
Elastic Arteries
- Largest arteries
- Largest diameter but walls relatively thin
- Function as pressure reservoir
- Help propel blood forward while ventricles relaxing
- Also known as conducting arteries – conduct blood to medium-sized arteries
Muscular Arteries
–Tunica media contains more smooth muscle and fewer elastic fibers than elastic arteries
–Walls relatively thick
–Capable of great vasoconstriction/ vasodilatation to adjust rate of blood flow
–Also called distributing arteries
Arterioles
- Abundant microscopic vessels
- Metarteriole has precapillary sphincter which monitors blood flow into capillary
- Sympathetic innervation and local chemical mediators can alter diameter and thus blood flow and resistance
- Resistance vessels – resistance is opposition to blood flow
- Vasoconstriction can raise blood pressure
Capillaries
–Smallest blood vessels connect arterial outflow and venous return
–Exchange vessels
–Lack tunica media and tunica externa
–Capillary beds – arise from single metarteriole
What is microcirculation?
flow from metarteriole through capillaries and into postcapillary venule
What is the primary function of a capillary (exchange vessel)
primary function is exchange between blood and interstitial fluid
Due to the lack of a tunica externa in capillaries
Substances pass through just one layer of endothelial cells and basement membrane
Capillary beds: Vasomotion
intermittent contraction and relaxation
Capillary beds:Throughfare channel
bypasses capillary bed