Nordgren: Arterial Pressure Regulation Flashcards
What are the four pathways that control the baroreceptor reflex?
- Efferent
- Afferent
- Central Integration
- Operation
What does the baroreceptor reflex do?
Helps to maintain blood pressure at constant levels
Describe the path of the efferent pathway in the baroreceptor reflex?
SNS and PNS POSTgang fibers terminate on the HEART and VESSELS.
What does the efferent pathway influence?
- SV
- Heart Rate
- TPR
What are arterial baroreceptors?
sensory receptors located in the walls of the AORTA and CAROTID ARTERIES
What are the two types of arterial baroreceptors?
- aortic baroreceptor
2. carotid sinus baroreceptor
How does the afferent pathway play a role in the baroreceptor reflex?
Arterial baroreceptors sense arterial pressure via STRETCH of the elastic arterial walls.
Increased stretch leads to increased AP generation by the baroreceptors.
What pathway is active at normal pressures and supplies a TONIC signal?
Afferent baroreceptors
Are baroreceptors better for short term or long term pressure regulation?
SHORT TERM
Baroreceptors can ADAPT. Continually elevated pressure over several days leads to a gradual decrease in the firing rate.
Where does central integration of the baroreceptor reflex occur?
In the medulla oblongata (medullary cardiovascular center)
What is carotid massage?
A clinical technique for ACTIVATING THE PNS
Interrupts atrial trachyarrhythmias.
How does carotid massage work?
It causes physical deformation of carotid sinuses and ‘tricks’ them into sending a HIGH PRESSURE alarm to the medullary control centers.
Where are cardiopulmonary baroreceptors located?
- atria
- ventricles
- coronary vessels
- lungs
What do cardiopulmonary baroreceptors do?
Sense pressure (or volume)
What has a tonic inhibitory influence on SNS activity?
Cardiopulmonary baroreceptors
Low PO2 and high PCO2 in arterial blood will cause what reflex?
Increases in RR and MAP d/t:
- Increased activity in the arterial chemoreceptors
- Increased activity of central chemoreceptors
Where are arterial chemoreceptors?
carotid arteries and arch of the aorta
Where are central chemoreceptors?
Somewhere in the CNS
What is Cushing reflex?
Reduced cerebral circulation/ishemia –>
An INCREASE in intracranial pressure leads to an INCREASE in arterial pressure.
This:
- prevents collapse of cranial vessels
- preserves blood flow to the brain
What happens in exercising skeletal muscle?
Chemoreceptors responding to muscle ischemia stimulate afferent fibers in the skeletal muscle and lead to:
- Reflex tachycardia
- Increased atrial pressure
What is the dive reflex?
Diving animals will experience BRADYCARDIA and intense VASOCONSTRICTION in all the systemic organs except the brain and heart.
This PROLONGS SUBMERSION by limiting the rate of oxygen use and directing flow to essential organs.
Why is the dive reflex unique?
It’s the only circumstance in which both the PNS (bradycardia) and SNS (vasoconstriction) are stimulated.