Lecture 7.1 - Peripheral Vascular and Lymphatics Flashcards
How do the elastic fibers in arteries help maintain blood pressure?
They stretch to accommodate systolic pressure so that the heart does not have to increase its workload.
Their elastic recoil also helps to propel blood foward.
The brachial artery branches to form the ____ and ___ arteries.
Radial and ulnar arteries.
What are the best four arteries to assess for pulse?
Femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibial.
How does the structure of veins differ from arteries?
Veins have thinner, more distensible walls with a a larger diameter.
This allows them to serve as blood reservoirs and reduce stress on the heart.
What are three ways blood pressure is maintained in the venous system?
- Contraction of skeletal muscles
- Pressure gradient created by breathing (Decrease thoracic, increase abdominal)
- Intraluminar semilunar valves
What is the “peripheral heart”?
A pattern of contractility and relaxation of the calf muscles while walking that propels blood forwards
What are the three roles of the lymphatic system?
- To conserve fluid and plasma proteins
- To form a major part of the immune system
- To absorb lipids from the intestinal tract
Describe the two main lymphatic trunks:
Where do they empty?
What do they drain?
Right Duct
–> Empties into right subclavian vein
–> Drains right side of head, neck and heart; right arm, lung and pleura; and right upper section of the liver
Thoracic Duct
–> Empties into left subclavian vein
–> Drains rest of body
Which lymph node drains the head and neck?
The cervical nodes
Which lymph node drains the breasts and upper arm?
The axillary
Which lymph node drains the hands and lower arm?
The epitrochlear
Which lymph node drains the lower extremities, external genitalia, and anterior abdominal wall?
The inguinal
The spleen is an accessory organ of the lymphatic system. Where is it located and what are its four functions?
Located in the LUQ
1. Destroys old RBCs
2. Creates antibodies
3. Store RBCs
4. Filter microorgansims from blood
What are the four related organs to the lymphatic system?
The spleen, tonsils, thymus, and bone marrow
The tonsils are an accessory organ of the lymphatic system. Where is it located and what is its function?
Three places: palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual
–> Responds to local inflammation
The thymus gland is an accessory structure of the lymphatic system. Where is it located and what is its function?
Located in the superior mediastinum, dorsal to sternum and anterior to aorta.
No function in adults, but produces T-lymphocytes in children before bone marrow is mature.
The bone marrow is an accessory organ of the lymphatic system. What role does bone marrow have in relation to lymphatics?
Creation of T and B lymphocytes
What are the four considerations for the peripheral vascular system of older adults?
–>Arteriosclerosis
–> Peripheral Vascular Disease
–> Deep Vein Thrombosis
–> Loss of Lymphatic tissue
Older adults are at risk of developing arteriosclerosis. What is this and how does it affect their health?
When peripheral vessels become rigid and thick –> Causes rise in SBP due to loss of elasticity + Heart has to work harder
Older adults are at risk of developing peripheral arterial disease. What is this and how does it affect their health?
Atherosclerosis - deposit of fatty plaques in arteries
–> Large cause of morbidity and mortality due to it often being underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated
–> Major risk factor for lower extremity amputation