Pressures & Flows In The Systemic & Pulmonary Circulation Flashcards
Define Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP).
The pressure being exerted against the arterial wall during ventricular systole, measured at the point where the pulse sound is first heard when the sphygmomanometer pressure is reduced from a starting pressure of around 180mmHg.
Define Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP).
The pressure being exerted against the arterial wall during ventricular diastole, measured at the pressure when the pulse sound disappears.
How is Blood Pressure (BP) written?
SBP/DBP
Define Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP).
The average arterial pressure during one cardiac cycle: 1/3 (SBP-DBP) + DBP.
What are baroreceptors?
Pressure sensors that detect stretch within blood vessels located throughout the vascular tree
What are the 2 types of baroreceptor?
- High pressure in arterial system
2. Low pressure in venous system + R heart
Where the most important arterial baroreceptors found?
Carotid sinus at the bifurcation of external + internal carotids
In the aortic arch
How do arterial baroreceptors carry out their function?
- Constantly fire with arterial wall stretch during systole
- Decreased BP causes decreased firing rate
- Signal carried via CN X + IX nerves to medulla
- Increase sympathetic activity + decrease vagal activity
- Increased CO + SVR
- Increased BP
What do arterial baroreceptors have a vital role in?
Compensation for sudden BP reduction
Why do we need low pressure venous baroreceptors as well as arterial baroreceptors?
Venous system unresponsive to arterial baroreceptors
Where are low pressure venous baroreceptors predominantly found?
Atria
Ventricles
Pulmonary arteries
What do low pressure venous baroreceptors do?
Mitigate BP changes in response to volume via:
- Peripheral vasodilation
- Reduced renal sympathetic outflow + inhibited release of ADH from posterior pituitary gland resulting in increased urine excretion
What are low pressure venous baroreceptors also called?
Atrial stretch receptors
What is the function of chemoreceptors?
Stimulated by a change in the chemical environment in which they are located primarily in the respiratory system (sometimes CVS)
How do chemoreceptors work?
Stimulated by hypoxia, hypercarbia + pH change
Increase sympathetic outflow to heart + peripheral vasculature via medullary centres causing increase CO + BP
Where is the pressure highest and lowest in the systemic circulation?
Highest in aorta
Lowest in vena cava
Where is the pressure highest and lowest in the pulmonary circulation?
Highest in pulmonary arteries
Lowest in pulmonary veins
Why is pressure low in capillaries?
Distensibility; stretch in response to increase volume rather than increasing pressure
If flow through the circulation is constant, what does this mean for volume?
Volume of pulmonary bed must significantly exceed that of systemic bed
Describe the arterial pressure curve.
- AV opens
- Systolic upstroke
- Systolic peak pressure
- Systolic decline
- Dicrotic notch as AV closes
- Diastolic runoff
- End-diastolic pressure
What does the dicrotic notch indicate?
That the pressure of the ventricle has decreased below that of the aorta as the AV closes
Why is there pulse pressure augmentation as you move peripherally along arteries?
Increased vessel wall rigidity/decreased wall elasticity
Explain the connection between Poiseuille’s equation and flow through a vessel.
Because of 4th power flow reduction, arterioles can influence blood flow with relatively minor radius changes
Each vessel running in parallel controls its own flow but vasoconstriction in one will increase combined resistance
What is the main function of veins?
Capacitance (storage) vessels
Regulate CO by modifying venous return