Hemodynamics Flashcards

Veins

How do you determine the systemic pressure difference that drives blood flow (Q)?

Why is turbulent flow bad in the systemic vasculature?
- Can cause endothelial damage –> inflammation, dysfunction of endothelium (important for local vasodilation and autoregulation of CV system) –> can lead to atherosclerosis and / or thrombus formation
- Local pockets of static blood that’s not moving as much –> more likely to clot

In the CV system, what determines compliance?

- Changes in […] alter peripheral venous pressure
- How can venous pressure be altered?
- Nitroglycerin is a selective venodilator. What affect will this drug have on pre-load and oxygen demand?
- Blood volume
- Changes in venous tone via SNS activation
- It will vasodilate veins, increasing blood in veins, thereby decreasing blood that is returned to heart so decrease pre-load and decrease oxygen demand



Capillaries are arranged in parallel. This allows the body to alter local vasoconstriction and vasodilation to alter blood flow locally to tissues without changing total resistance. If total resistance is unchanged and flow is constant, then pressure will not change.

What must be the relationship between the pressure gradient and vascular resistance in order for blood flow to occur?
Pressure gradient must be high enough to overcome TPR
Normally the viscosity of blood does not change. However, there are circumstances that can change viscosity. When would this happen?
Polycythemia = genetic condition, too many RBCs



What 4 factors determine the resistance to blood flow?




- decreased


Capillaries




Decrease; increase

With compliance in mind, explain why the BP measured at the brachial artery is not the same as the BP of the actual aorta.
The aorta is more compliant that the systemic arteries. Therefore, blood in the aorta will display a lower increase in pressure for a given change in volume or distention of the vessel. The systemic arteries distend less than the aorta, so for the same level of distention, there will be a larger change in pressure. Therefore, the pressure measured at the brachial artery is actually higher than it is in the aorta. The systolic pressure increases, while the diastolic pressure decreases leading to a greater pulse pressure in the BA vs. aorta.

- What does aortic pulse pressure tell you?
- How is it calculated?
- What 2 things determine PP?
- See image
- See image
- Compliance and stroke volume output


Increase, right


Venules

What is the equation for flow rate?
A * v
v = velocity
A = Cross-sectional area
Therefore, v = Q / A
- When the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, the aortic pressure […].
- What is systolic pressure?
- As the left ventricle is relaxing and refilling, the pressure in the aorta […].
- What is diastolic pressure?
- Rises
- The maximal aortic pressure following ejection is systolic pressure
- Falls
- The lowest pressure in the aorta, which occurs just before the ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, is diastolic pressure

- decrease, decrease

Decreased









