Physiology - Cardiology Block (II) Flashcards
What is fluid velocity?
The speed of a particle of fluid (cm/sec)
What is fluid flow?
The amount of fluid traveling a distance per time
Q = velocity * area
If the cross sectional area (A) of an artery increases, what effect does this have on flow rate?
If the cross sectional area (A) of an artery increases, what effect does this have on velocity?
The flow rate will remain the same BECAUSE
–>
the velocity decreases
Q = vA
What two factors affect flow rate in the cardiovascular system?
Fluid velocity and vessel cross-sectional area
Q = vA
What are the two types of flow found in the cardiovascular system?
Turbulent (rough, damaging) and laminar (smooth, protective)
In simple terms, describe the effects of turbulent and laminar flows on cardiovascular vessels.
Laminar = efficient, protective
Turbulent = damaging, chaotic
In laminar flow through the arteries, where does the fluid flow quickest?
The central layers
(the outer layers interact with the sationary walls)
What does a high Reynold’s number (> 2000) indicate about the flow in the blood vessels?
What does a low Reynold’s number (< 2000) indicate about the flow in the blood vessels?
It is turbulent and noisy;
it is laminar and smooth
What three factors increase the Reynold’s number as they increase?
What factor decreases the Reynold’s number as it increases?
(Note: An increasing Reynold’s number = increasing blood turbulence)
Blood density,
*diameter of the blood vessel,
*blood velocity;
blood viscosity
(*vessel diameter and blood velocity are the two most important factors here)
Assuming flow rate has to remain constant, which will have a bigger effect on blood turbulence, changes in vessel diameter or changes in blood velocity?
Velocity
(diameter follows a linear change;
velocity will respond in a squared change)
v = Q / (πr2)
Is velocity higher in a narrow or wide vessel lumen?
Narrow
v = Q / (πr2)
What term refers to the ability of a blood vessel to return to its normal, non-distended shape once an external force is removed?
What term refers to the ability of a blood vessel to deform (change shape) in response to a force?
What term refers to the ability of a blood vessel to change its volume in accordance with changes in internal pressure?
Elasticity;
distensibility;
compliance
Why are blood vessels in the elderly stiffer than those in younger populations?
Loss of elastin
(less elasticity)
Why are both blood vessel distensibility and elastance desirable?
The aorta (and other large vessels) distend with the increase in systolic pressure (this dampens pressures and decreases afterload).
The elastance means they (contracting) help distribute the fluid out into the capillaries continuously.
What controls the rate of blood flow?
I.e. what does the heart push against?
Peripheral resistance
Q = ΔP / R
Q = ΔP / R shows us that blood flow is impeded by resistance.
What equation shows us all the variables creating that resistance?
R = 8 * η * l / πr4
(8 * viscosity * length / πr4)
Changes in blood vessel diameter will have a bigger effect on which, blood velocity or the resistance to flow?
velocity = Q / πr2
Resistance to flow = 8ηl / πr4
50% narrowing of an artery will have what effect on the resistance in that artery?
A 16-fold increase
R = 8 * η * l / πr4
25% narrowing of an artery will have what effect on the resistance in that artery?
A 3.2-fold increase
R = 8 * η * l / πr4
Resistors in sequence are calculated as:
Resistors in parallel are calculated as:
R1 + R2 + R3 = RTotal
1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 = 1/RTotal
What effect does bifurcation of vessels off the aorta have on blood flow?
The resistance of all the vessels are now in parallel (and so, decreased);
this trades efficacy for function and reduced resistance –>
flow rates can now be different for different organs
Bifurcating the aorta into various blood vessels creates a system of reduced resistances (the resistance vessels are now in parallel).
What are the two major effects of this structure?
Differing blood flow through differing organs;
the heart pushes against less resistance
Increases in what two factors increase resistance to blood flow?
Increases in what single factor decrease resistance to blood flow?
Blood viscosity, vessel length
vessel lumen radius
R = 8 * η * l / πr4
An individual with diabetes can have an increased risk of a first heart attack high enough to be comparable to what other patient?
An individual that has already had a heart attack
Why would having a single vessel loop be an inefficient structure for the circulatory system?
How does the body get around this problem?
Resistance would be huge;
parallel vessels (reducing resistance and allowing for varying flow rates)
Where is resistance high and flow slowest in the cardiovascular system?
Elastic arteries
Muscular arteries
Arterioles
Capillaries
Venules
Medium veins
Large veins
Capillaries
(smallest radius –> R = 8 * η * l / πr4)
Describe how pressures decrease over time in the cardiovascular system and how they are affected by constriction points (i.e. valves).
Where is the largest drop in pressure in the cardiovascular system?
The arterioles
What vessel type has capillaries coming off it and serves as a connection piece between arterioles and venules (an arteriovenous connection)?
Metarterioles
What are the two major factors affecting fluid flow between capillaries and the interstitial space?
Hydrostatic pressure;
oncotic pressure
What are some of the methods via which particles get from the capillary lumen to the interstitial space?
Filtration (via channels and pores), diffusion, pinocytosis
On which side of the capillary bed is oncotic pressure the highest?
On which side of the capillary bed is hydrostatic pressure the highest?
It is relatively constant across the bed;
the arterial end
Given hydrostatic and oncotic pressures for both a given capillary and its surrounding interstitial fluid, how would you express the Starling law?
Qf = k[(Pc - Pi) - (πc - πi)] = ΔP - Δπ
Arteriolar vasoconstriction will have what effect on the hydrostatic pressure in the capillary beds it perfuses?
Decrease
Will arteriolar vasoconstriction or vasodilation increase hydrostatic pressure in capillary beds supplied by a particular arteriole?
Vasodilation
What is the law of LaPlace for a sphere (e.g. an alveolus)?
What is the law of LaPlace for a cylinder (e.g. a blood vessel)?
T = P*r / 2
wall tension = internal pressure * radius / 2
T = P*r
wall tension = internal pressure * radius
What structure in the cardiovascular system controls TPR?
What structure in the cardiovascular system has the slowest flow and largest cross-section?
What structure in the cardiovascular system has the lowest pressure?
Arterioles;
capillaries;
veins
True/False.
The venous system is highly compliant.
True.
Compliance = Δ__ / Δ__
V,
P
True/False.
Arterial pulsation can help compress nearby veins and push the blood back towards the heart.
True.
Where in the body are veins thickest and least compliant?
The lower limbs
True/False.
Lymphatic vessels have abundant tight junctions.
False.
What layers make up a venule?
Endothelium + a small layer of fibrous tissue
A patient has been diagnosed with a new DVT. What do you recommend to the person in terms of their immediate activity levels?
Immediate bedrest to decrease risk of PE
In a patient with DVT, is leg exercise or leg elevation more efficient in returning blood to the heart?
Leg elevation
(damaged valves means the blood flow will easily become retrograde)
(e.g. exercise will push the blood in both directions)
True/False.
If a patient is given proper bedrest and anticoagulation, their DVT will completely resolve.
False.
The clot may stabilize, but it can remain as a chronic condition
(it is difficult to remove clotted tissue and damaged valves from the venous lumen)
Describe the changes in blood flow to various organs as a percentage of total cardiac output at rest and during strenuous exercise.
What is cardiac output at resting state?
What is cardiac output during heavy exercise?
5 L / min
25 L / min
What is the main mechanism by which blood is shunted towards or away from certain organ systems?
Changes in metabolite levels
(e.g. adenosine, K+, O2, CO2)
Increases in what cyclic nucleotide(s) will result in smooth muscle relaxation.
cGMP and/or cAMP
Increases in extracellular K+ causes smooth muscle _____________.
Relaxation
Increases in ______________ __+ causes smooth muscle relaxation.
Extracellular K
What effect does sympathetic innervation of the α1 receptors have on the body’s vasculature?
Systemic vasoconstriction ONLY
α1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
α2 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β2 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β3 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
Systemic vasculature (constriction)
Cerebral vasculature (constriction)
Heart tissue (increased contractility)
Lung tissue (bronchodilation) and skeletal muscle vasculature (relaxation)
Adipose (increased lypolysis)
α1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
α2 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
What are their effects?
Systemic vasculature (constriction)
Cerebral vasculature (constriction)
β1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β2 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β3 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
What are their effects?
Heart tissue (increased contractility)
Lung tissue (bronchodilation) and skeletal muscle vasculature (relaxation)
Adipose (increased lypolysis)
α1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β1 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
β2 receptors are mostly involved in what organ system(s)?
What are their effects?
Systemic vasculature (constriction)
Heart tissue (increased contractility)
Lung tissue (bronchodilation) and skeletal muscle vasculature (relaxation)
Norepinephrine acts on which adrenergic receptors?
Epinephrine acts on which adrenergic receptors?
α1, α2, β1 (some β3)
α1, α2, β1, β2
Which catecholamine has a much stronger effect on β2 receptors?
Epinephrine
Do β-blockers typically block the β1 or β2 receptors?
Do β-blockers typically block the α1 or α2 receptors?
Both;
neither
What are the five main cholinergic receptors and what organs do they affect?
Muscarinic
M1 - ganglia
M2 - heart
M3 - glands, smooth muscle
Nicotinic
Nm - NMJ
Nn - ganglia
What are the main M (muscarinic) cholinergic receptors and what organs do they affect?
Muscarinic
M1 - ganglia
M2 - heart
M3 - glands, smooth muscle
What are the main N (nicotinic) cholinergic receptors and what organs do they affect?
Nicotinic
Nm - NMJ
Nn - ganglia
What substance is an agonist for every cholinergic receptor (M1, M2, M3, Nn, Nm)?
Acetylcholine
What drug blocks muscarinic (M1, M2, M3) receptors?
What drug blocks nicotinic (Nn, Nm) receptors?
Atropine;
nicotine (also an agonist)
The __ receptor is activated by __________ and decreases heart rate and contractility.
The __ receptor is activated by __________ and increases heart rate and contractility.
M2, acetylcholine;
β1, catecholamines (norepi., epi., dopamine)
What substance is an agonist for the α1 and β1 receptors, but not the α2 or β2?
Dopamine (also D1)
What adrenergic receptors are activated by dopamine?
α1, β1, D1
What adrenergic receptor acts on the heart?
What adrenergic receptor acts (weakly) on the skeletal muscle vasculature?
What adrenergic receptor acts on the systemic arteries/arterioles?
What adrenergic receptor acts on the lungs?
What adrenergic receptor acts on the cerebral arteries/arterioles?
What adrenergic receptor acts on the adipocytes?
β1
β2
α1
β2
α2
β3
What cholinergic receptors act on ganglia?
What cholinergic receptor acts on glands and smooth muscle?
What cholinergic receptor acts on the neuromuscular junction?
What cholinergic receptor acts on the heart?
M1, Nn
M3
Nm
M2
True/False.
α1 receptors act on resistance arterioles and capacitance veins.
True.
True/False.
Although mainly responsible for systemic vasoconstriction, the sympathetic nervous system also plays a major role in vasodilation in skeletal muscle.
False.
This is almost entirely regulated via metabolite concentrations.
True/False.
Norepinephrine is generally responsible for systemic vasoconstriction.
AND
Epinephrine is generally responsible for vasodilation in the lungs, heart, and skeletal muscle.
True.
(Although there is much overlap in function between the two.)
What mechanism is responsible for most of the vasoconstriction that occurs in the skin (this being the main form of vascular regulation the skin receives)?
Sympathetic innervation
What causes vasodilation of vessels in the skin?
What causes vasoconstriction of vessels in the skin?
A lack of sympathetic input;
increased sympathetic input
What are the main adrenergic receptors activated by dopamine?
D<strong>1</strong> (renal tubules vasodilation and diuresis)
α1 (systemic vasoconstriction)
β1 (increased heart rate and contractility)
(Throw one dab of dopamine on that)
What is the overall effect of D1, α1, and β1 receptor activation by dopamine?
Shunting blood towards the kidneys
While the vast majority of vascular regulation comes from sympathetic innervation, what vasculature does receive parasympathetic input?
Vessels of the:
salivary gland,
some cerebral tissues,
gastrointestinal glands
Via what mechanism can acetylcholine cause vasodilation in some tissues?
Increased NO release from endothelial cells
–> increased cGMP in smooth myocytes
True/False.
The brain induces vasoconstriction and vasodilation to shunt blood around the body to various locations, and it is the main control center for this shunting.
False.
The brain mostly uses vasoconstriction (sympathetic);
the majority of shunting control comes from local metabolite concentrations
What hormonal effects cause vasoconstriction?
What hormonal effects cause vasodilation?
Renin-angiotensin system,
ADH,
epinephrine (if at α1 receptors);
ANP (potent),
VIP
What hormone can the brain release to say ‘I’m not being perfused enough.’
What hormone can the heart release to say ‘I’m too stretched out.’
What hormone can the GI tract release to say ‘I’m not being perfused enough.’
ADH (hypothalamus/neurohypophysis),
epinephrine (from adrenal medulla);
ANP;
VIP
What system can the kidneys use to say ‘I’m not being perfused enough.’
Renin-angiotensin system