L3: Haemodynamics Flashcards
What is serum?
Plasma without the clotting factors
Clear yellowish liquid
Does blood viscosity changes much?
Changes are relatively uncommon
Diseases –> Polycythaemia (↑RBCs), Thrombocythaemia (↑platelets) leukaemia (↑WBCs)
Thick blood –> dry gangrene in peripheries
What causes plasma viscosity to change?
Minor changes
Typically from acute phase proteins (CRP, fibrinogen, complement)
Indicates inflammation
What does haemodynamics mean?
Movement of blood
Metabolic demand dictate flow
What causes blood to move?
Moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
Pressure gradient required for movement
Define laminar flow?
Smooth flow
Maintaining energy
Most common
Define turbulent flow?
Disorganised flow
Loss of energy
Pressure increased beyond point where it can flow linearly- flow decreases
Define flow?
volume transferred per unit time (L/min)
Define pressure?
Force per unit area (mmHg) –> in blood
Why does the flow and pressure pulsate?
To model steady flow and pressure column
What is the relationship between flow and resistance?
Inverse relationship ↑resitance ↓flow
Resistance= difficulty of flow
How are pressure, flow and resistance related?
Flow= Pressure / resistance
If resistance increases, flow the same, then pressure must increase
What affects the resistance?
Diameter, length of vessel and viscosity
Diameter- most important
Length of vessel (constant)
Viscosity (constant)
Why does the diameter have the biggest impact on resistance?
Radius raised to 4th power (simplified R= 1/r^4)
19% decrease in radius –> half the blood flow
Small changes= big impact
What causes the radius/diameter of blood vessel to change?
Vasoconstriction and vasodilation