Physiology: Overview of the function of the Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What is the function of the CVS?
Transports; O2 and CO2 Metabolites Nutrients Hormones Heat All around the body
How is the CVS described as flexible?
Pump is able to vary output
Vessels are able to redirect blood
Vessels are able to store blood
What does the fact the structure of the CVS is in series mean?
Output must be equal
What does the structure of the vascular bed in parallel mean?
All tissues get oxygenated blood
There can be regional redirection of blood
There are exceptions that prove the rule
What is the function of arterioles?
Act as taps controlling the resistance to each vascular bed
What type of artery is the aorta and what are some of its features?
Elastic Arterty
Wide lumen and elastic wall which dampens variations from the heart
Describe the features of muscular arteries?
Wide lumen with strong non-elastic walls
Not very resistant
What are the features of arterioles?
Narrow lumen with thick contractile walls
Controls resistance and flow
Can allow regional redirection of blood
Can also be called “Resistance Vessels”
What are the features of Capillaries?
Narrow lumen and thin wall
Can also be called “Exchange Vessels”
What are the features of venules and veins?
Wide lumen and distensible wall
Low resistance and can act as a reservoir
Can allow fractional distribution of blood and rest of circulation
Can be called “Capacitance Vessels”
Describe the blood path on the Right side of the heart?
Blood enters the R Atrium from the superior and inferior Vena Cava
The blood then flows through the tricuspid valve into the R Ventricle
Contraction of the R ventricle pushes the blood through the pulmonary valve into the L and R Pulmonary Arteries
Describe the blood path on the Left side of the heart?
Blood enters the L Atrium through the pulmonary vein
Contraction the L Atrium allows blood to pass through the Mitral Valve (Bicuspid Valve) into the L Ventricle
Contraction of the L Ventricle pushes the blood through the aortic valve into the aorta
Name the gross structure of the heart? (14)
Septum Myocardium Atrium Ventricles Aorta Vena Cava Pulmonary Trunk Pulmonary Veins Aortic Valve Pulmonary Valve Mitral Valve Tricuspid Valve Chordae Tendinae Papillary Muscle
