Microcirculation Flashcards
What is the overall aim of the cardiovascular system?
Adequate blood flow through the capillaries
What Law describes the change in pressure in a fluid circuit
Darcy’s Law
What is the definition of the blood flow rate?
The volume of blood passing through a vessel per unit of time
How to calculate pressure gradient when you know the pressure of point A and point B
Pressure gradient = Pressure A - Pressure B
What is the equation which describe the change in pressure in a fluid circuit?
Change in pressure (between A and B) = Flow rate (Q) x Resistance (R)
What is the pressure gradient?
The difference in pressure between Point A and Point B (Pressure when blood enters the 1st order arteriole - Pressure when blood enters capillaries)
What affect will increases in flow rate have on the pressure gradient?
It will increase the pressure gradient
Flow rate is proportional to…
Pressure gradient
Flow rate is inversely proportional to…
Resistance
What is the definition of resistance?
Hindrance to blood flow due to friction between moving fluid and stationary vascular walls
What is the equation for the resistance experienced in a vessel?
R = 8Ln / Pi r^4
Where L = vessel length
n = blood viscosity
r = radius
If you half the vessel radius, what happens to the flow?
decreases the flow 16 times
What part of the resistance equation is the most variable and can change from minute to minute?
The radius of the vessel
Why is having a pressure difference in the organs essential?
Otherwise blood would not reach tissue capillary beds
During Vasoconstriction, what happens to resistance across the vessel?
increases
During Vasoconstriction, what happens to the flow rate across the vessel?
Flow decreases
During Vasoconstriction, what happens to the radius across the vessel?
decreases
During vasodilation, what happens to the resistance across the vessel?
Resistance Decreases
During vasodilation, what happens to the flow across the vessel?
increases
During vasodilation, what happens to the radius across the vessel?
Radius Increases
What is meant by vascular tone?
The arteriolar smooth muscle normally displays a state of partial constriction
Why is vascular tone important?
If the smooth muscle is in a contracted state, then the arteriole wall can contract or dilate - if it was fully dilated at rest, it could only constrict, not dilate further
What does vascular tone affect?
Radius of the vessel
What is meant by active hyperaemia?
when the blood flow to a specific tissue is matched to its needs and is regulated by chemical changes