Pressure, Flow and Resistance Flashcards
In which types of organisms is diffusion alone sufficient to deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products?
In single-celled and simple multi-cellular organisms.
What process is used to transport substances around the body in complex multicellular organisms?
Bulk flow.
bulk flow definition
Transport within blood or air due to pressure differences
passive diffusion definition
Movement down a concentration gradient
transport of gases require what 2 things?
both bulk flow and passive diffusion
How does diffusion differ from bulk flow?
Bulk flow moves large quantities of substances (like oxygen, O₂) from one location to another through a system, as shown in the image with the lungs and respiring tissue.
Diffusion moves individual molecules (like oxygen and carbon dioxide) from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration across membranes, as shown in the diagram.
What determines the rate of diffusion between air and blood?
The rate of diffusion is driven by:
The concentration (or partial pressure) difference (C₁ - C₂).
What limits the rate of diffusion?
The rate of diffusion is limited by:
The thickness (T) and surface area (A) of the diffusion barrier.
The solubility and molecular weight (MW) of the substance.
What is the formula for the rate of diffusion according to Fick’s Law?
What is the formula for the rate of diffusion according to Fick’s Law?
What physical properties influence the permeability of a substance during diffusion?
The physical properties of the diffusion barrier and the diffusing substance influence the permeability of the substance.
Why is diffusion too slow over large distances?
Diffusion is too slow over large distances, so FLOW is required to transport substances around the body.
What does Ohm’s Law state?
Where:
I = current
V = voltage
R = resistance
What does Darcy’s Law describe?
Darcy’s Law describes the relationship between flow, pressure difference, and resistance:
Where:
𝑃1−𝑃2 = pressure difference
R = resistance to flow
What is the alternate form of Darcy’s Law?
How are flow and pressure difference (P₁ - P₂) related?
Flow and pressure difference (P₁ - P₂) are proportional to each other.
If P₁ > P₂, flow occurs from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure.
What determines resistance to flow according to Poiseuille’s Law?
Where:
L = Length of the tube
r = Radius of the tube
V = Viscosity of the fluid
What is the combined equation for flow when Darcy’s Law and Poiseuille’s Law are combined?
How is flow related to vessel radius?
How is resistance related to vessel radius?
Why does a small change in vessel radius cause a large change in resistance and flow?
How can arterioles adjust their radius?
Arterioles can adjust their radius through vasoconstriction (constriction) or vasorelaxation (relaxation), which affects their resistance.
What happens during vasoconstriction?
During vasoconstriction:
The arteriole radius decreases, resulting in increased resistance.
what are 5 examples of vasoconstrictor stimuli
Noradrenaline (SNS)
Adrenaline
Angiotensin II (RAAS)
Vasopressin (ADH)
Pressure
What happens during vasodilation?
During vasodilation:
The arteriole radius increases, resulting in reduced resistance.
what are 4 examples of vasodilator stimuli
Adrenaline
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Histamine
Flow
What is the state of arterioles at rest?
At rest, arterioles are partially constricted.
How does viscosity affect blood flow?
The thicker the fluid, the higher the viscosity, and the higher the resistance.
Red cell mass and plasma proteins make blood very viscous, which reduces flow.
How does blood compare to water in terms of viscosity?
Blood is 3-4 times thicker than water, which would alone reduce the flow
What is significant about blood being a non-Newtonian fluid?
Since blood is a non-Newtonian fluid, it behaves differently from simple fluids, and the usual relationship between viscosity and flow does not apply in the same way.
What is laminar flow?
Laminar flow occurs when viscous drag at the sides of the tube slows the fluid, so the fastest movement (flow) happens in the center of the tube. This effect becomes more apparent as the radius of the tube becomes smaller.