Hemodynamics Flashcards
Define Hemodynamics
Basic physics of blood flow
What drives blood flow through vessels?
Pressure difference
What is transmural pressure?
the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of a vessel (across the wall)
T or F: Gravitational pressure also affects blood flow
True, positional changes affect pressure.
Where is the highest mean pressure found?
Aorta
T or F: cardiac output from left and right sides of heart are equal
True, but resistance and pressure are different — much lower in pulmonary circulation.

What is the Total blood volume?
~ 5L
Where is the greatest blood volume found?
Venous system
What is Flow (Q)?
volume per unit time (ml/min)
T or F: Blood Flow (Q) is constant through the system
True. the cardiovascular system is a closed loop, so flow through the capillaries MUST be same as flow through the aorta (on average).
What is the Total flow in the cardiovascular system?
the CARDIAC OUTPUT (CO)
What is Velocity (v)?
distance per unit time (cm/sec), v=Q/A [A=cross sectional area]
Blood velocity is dependent on:
-Velocity depends inversely on cross-sectional area (A)
T or F: velocity is slowest through sections with biggest cross-sectional area
True, total sectional area is smallest in Aorta, yielding fastest flow
What is the Flow equation?
Q = (delta)P/R
-R = resistance
-(delta)P= pressure difference

What is the equation for Cardiac Output (CO)?
CO= (mean arterial pressure-venous pressure)/ total peripheral resistance (TRP)
T or F: Flow in doesn’t necessarily have to equal equal flow out
False
T or F: Flow is directly proportional to pressure, inversely proportional to resistance
True
What are Assumptions of flow equation that are not really valid for cardiovascular system?
- constant pressure
- constant resistance
- straight rigid tube
T or F: The term (pi)r^4/8nl (from Poiseuille’s equation) is the inverse of resistance in the flow equation
True
What happens when you increase size of vessel (radius)?
decrease resistance, increase flow
doubling the vessel radius increases flow by?
16-fold (2^4), flow varies with 4th power.
What is the the major mechanism by which flow is controlled in the CV system?
Vessel diameter (vasoconstriction & vasodilation).
What happens when you increase the length of the vessel?
increase resistance, decrease flow