Lecture 9 Flashcards
The walls of the capillaries are just ___________ with a ________ __________.
Why is this important?
endothelium
basement membrane
this is important because the diffusion distance needs to be as small as possible
What does the capillary network drain into?
venules and then the veins and then into larger veins
What is the primary function of capillary circulation?
to exchange nutrients and metabolic end products
What moves from the capillaries to the tissues and what moves from the tissues to the capillaries?
- O2 and glucose
- CO2
Is there any smooth muscle wrapped around the capillaries?
no
What percent of the total blood volume resides in the capillaries?
6%
Do capillaries have thick or thin walls?
thin
Is the blood velocity high or low in the capillary circulation?
low
What is the equation for blood velocity?
flow/total CSA
If total CSA is increases, what happens to blood velocity?
it decreases
What is the blood velocity and cross sectional area like in the capillaries?
There is a high total cross sectional area which means there is low blood flow velocity
Why is it important that we have low blood velocity in the capillaries?
so we can get optimal gas exchange
Capillary circulation is a__________
adaptable
What does it mean by capillary circulation is adaptable?
There are several routes between arterioles and venules
What three things control the route of blood through the capillaries?
- local metabolic factors
- precapillary sphincter
- metarterioles
Explain how local metabolic factors change the routes of blood through the capillaries
If one tissue in one part needs lots of O2, blood will flow to that area
Explain how pre-capillary sphincters and metarterioles change the routes of the blood through the capillaries
If one tissue in one part needs lots of O2, blood will flow to that area which is controlled by pre-capillary sphincters and metarterioles. This is because they have smooth muscle to vasodilate and vasoconstrict to drive blood through the network
Sphincters can be described as ________ and metarterioles as _______________
gatekeepers
flow directors
Define angiogenesis
This is the increase of the capillary network to meet increased delivery demands
When is angiogenesis a good thing?
When you are endurance training, you want to get more O2 and nutrients into your tissue because the metabolic demands in your tissues are greater. To meet this increased demand, the capillary network can grow
When is angiogenesis a bad thing?
Angiogenesis can enable the growth of cancer cells. Cancer cells have a high metabolic rate because they are dividing so frequently and therefore there is a high demand for oxygen and nutrients. Because of this increased demand, the capillary network supply goes up too
What forces regulate fluid movement across the capillary wall?
Starling’s forces
What are the two types of pressure that make up Starling’s forces to regulate fluid movement?
hydrostatic pressure
osmotic pressure
What are the two types of hydrostatic pressure?
- Capillary pressure/perfusion pressure (Pc)
- interstitial pressure (P(IF))
What are the two types of osmotic pressure?
- capillary osmotic pressure (πc)
- interstitial osmotic pressure (π(IF)
What causes capillary osmotic pressure?
this comes from proteins, especially albumin
What two pressures are pushing water out of the capillaries?
The capillary hydrostatic pressure (Pc) and the osmotic force due to interstitial fluid protein concentration (π(IF))
What two pressures are pushing water into the capillaries?
The interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure (P(IF))
and osmotic force due to plasma protein concentration (π(c))
What is the equation for the balance between fluid moving into the cell and out of the cell?
(Pc - πIF) - (PIF - πc)
When fluid goes into the capillaries, this is called what?
absorption