Histology of Blood Vessels Flashcards
Why does velocity of blood flow decrease along the arterial tree?
Greater and greater branches increase overall cross sectional area of blood flow despite smaller individual vessels
Where is there higher arterial pressure: systemic or pulmonary circulation?
systemic
What are the three basic layers of blood vessels?
intima, media, adventitia
Which basic blood vessel layers are present in capillaries?
only intima
4 substructures of the tunica intima
endothelial cells, basal lamina, subendothelial connective tissue, internal elastic lamina (arteries and veins)
3 substructures of the tunica media
smooth muscle cells, elastic fibers, collagen
5 substructures of the tunica adventitia
external elastic lamina in arteries, smooth muscle cells in large veins, loose connective tissue, vasa vasorum, nerves/nervi vascularis
Why do large conduit arteries contain so many elastic fibers?
to create tension that can “snap” and propel blood through conduit to smaller arteries/arterioles
Boundary between intima and media
internal elastic lamina
Arteries tend to have thicker/thinner walls relative to their luminal diameter than corresponding veins
thicker
In comparison to arteries of similar size, veins tend to have narrower/wider lumens, thinner/thicker walls with adventitia thicker/thinner than media.
wider lumens, thinner walls, thicker adventitia than media (vs arteries)
Role of muscular arteries
distributing vessels that control regional blood flow as needed (e.g. exercise, meal)
Defining features of muscular arteries
media: spiral smooth muscle with collagen fibers and fewer elastic fibers than elastic arteries w/o organized lamellae
How is blood flow regulated in muscular arteries?
by controlling luminal diameter and resistance to flow by contraction/relaxation of vascular smooth muscle under control of ANS, catecholamines (adrenal medulla), and local mediators
Role of small arteries/arterioles
resistance vessels that are the major determinant of arterial resistance to blood flow and therefore blood pressure (esp diastolic) and to control flow to microvascular bed
What regulates contraction/relaxation of medial smooth muscle in arterioles?
ANS, adrenal catecholamines, angiotensin II, local factors (e.g. NO, prostacyclin), pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, adenosine
Role of capillaries
exchange vessels
Ultrastructure of capillaries
thin attenuated endothelial cells with a basal lamina that may be shared with pericytes
Role of pericytes
contractile function to modulate capillary flow, progenitors of vascular smooth muscle during angiogenesis
3 modes of exchange between capillary lumen and extravascular space
- passive diffusion
- active transport (pinocytic vessels or receptor mediated pinocytosis)
- passage between adjacent cells
Are all capillaries receiving blood flow at the same time in a given bed?
No. there is a smooth muscle sphincter for each capillary that regulates when it gets blood
What component of capillary beds always are perfused?
thoroughfare channels
3 classes of capillaries
continuous < fenestrated < discontinuous (with relation to exchange-ability)
Most common type of capillary
continuous
How are continuous capillaries sealed?
tight junctions, continuous basal lamina –> requires direct diffusion of gases or channel-mediated pinocytosis (carrier or active transport)