Physiology Flashcards
What is blood pressure?
The outwards (hydrostatic) pressure exerted by blood on the blood vessel walls
What is systolic arterial blood pressure?
The pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the aorta and systemic arteries when the heart CONTRACTS
What is a ideal systolic pressure?
90-120 mm Hg
What is diastolic arterial blood pressure?
The pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the aorta and systemic arteries when the heart RELAXES
What’s an ideal diastolic pressure?
60-90 mm Hg
When does hypertension occur?
When clinic blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher and day time average is 135/85 mm Hg or higher
What is pulse pressure?
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures
What is a normal pulse pressure?
Between 30 and 50 mmHg
What is the mean arterial blood pressure?
The average arterial blood pressure during a single cardiac cycle which involves contraction and relaxation of the heart
How do the timings for the systolic and diastolic portions of the cycle compare?
The diastolic portion is around twice as long as the systolic portion
What are the two ways in which mean arterial blood pressure can be estimated?
MAP = [(2xdiastolic) +systolic] /3 MAP = DBP + 1/3 x (difference between SBP and DBP)
What is the normal range that MAP should be within?
70-105mmHg
What is the minimum MAP needed to perfume the brain, heart and kidneys?
60mmHg
What happens if MAP isn’t high enough?
The brain, Heart, kidney and other internal organs aren’t perfused
What happens if MAP is too high?
It can damage blood vessels and put extra strain on the heart
Describe the negative feedback reflex in MAP
Deviation in MAP > triggers Baroreceptors > which informs the cardiovascular control system (medulla) > which sends instructions to the heart and blood vessels > leading to a compensatory response (varying stroke rate in the heart, stroke volume in the heart, or systemic vascular resistance in the blood vessels)
This brings the MAP back to normal and the negative feedback shuts of the system responsible for the response.
What are the two types of baroreceptors?
- carotid receptors (carotid sinus)
- aortic baroreceptors (aorta)
How do signals from the aortic baroreceptors reach the medulla?
Aortic baroreceptors > vagus nerve > brainstem
How do the signals from the carotid baroreceptors reach the medulla?
Carotid baroreceptors > herings nerve > glossopharyngeal > brainstem
What happens to the firing rate in baroreceptors agreement neutrons when MAP increases?
It increases
What happens to the firing rate in baroreceptors agreement neutrons when MAP decreases?
It decreases
What happens in the brainstem when it receives baroreceptor signals?
> The cardiovascular control centre receives information and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) is the site of the 1st synapse in the medulla.
NTS relays information to other regions of the brain
which generates a vagal (parasympathetic) outflow to the heart
regulates spinal sympathetic neurones
What is cardiac output?
The volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute
What is stroke volume?
The volume of blood pumped by each ventricle of the heart per heart beat