MICROANATOMY OF THE VASCULAR SYSTEM Flashcards
What are the functions of blood vessels?
Distributing blood around the body
A site of gas transfer
Site of solute transfer
A role in haemostasis and the inflammatory processes
Outline the micro anatomy of the heart?
The endocardium is lined by endothelium
The myocardium contains heart muscle
The epicardium is the outer most layer which consist of mesothelioma and connective tissue
What is the tunica externa?
A sheath of connective tissue, consisting mainly of collagen
What is the tunica media?
Layers of smooth muscle, supported by connective tissue
Primarily elastic fibres
What is the tunica intima?
Epithelial and connective tissue layers
What is the vasa vasorum?
a network of small blood vessels that supply the walls of large blood vessels
What are the nervi vasorum?
small nerve fibers found in arteries and veins that trigger contraction of the smooth muscle in their walls.
What are the 3 types of capillaries?
Continuous
Fee started
Sinusoid
Where do you find continuous capillaries?
In skin and muscle
Where do you find fenestrated capillaries?
In kidneys and small intestine
Where do you find sinusoid capillaries?
In the liver and bone marrow
What is a metarteriole?
a short microvessel in the microcirculation that links arterioles and capillaries. they have individual smooth muscle cells placed a short distance apart, each forming a precapillary sphincter that encircles the entrance to that capillary bed.
Describe the structure of a large, elastic artery?
They contain substantial amounts of elastic fibres in the tunica media to help maintain a constant flow of blood during diastole
Describe the structure of medium, muscular arteries?
They have a tunica media that contains mostly smooth muscle fibres which allows regulation of diameter and control of blood flow
Why is blood pressure higher in arteries than any other cardiac vessel?
As they’re closer to the heart after contraction and they have a higher contractile capacity
