Reflex control of the CVS Flashcards
what is meant by the term “cardiovascular reflexes”?
changes in CVS response through sensory/afferent pathways
what is involved in a cardiovascular reflex?
- Stimulation of sensory receptors
- Central pathways
- Effects on BP (via sympathetic and vagus nerves)
- stimulation of sensory receptors - name the receptors
♣ Arterial baroreceptors
♣ Cardiac receptors
♣ Arterial chemoreceptors (measuring Co2, pH levels)
♣ Muscle metaboreceptors (cause vasodilation when we get local metabolism)
what do muscle metaboreceptors cause
vasodilation, when we get local metabolism
what do arterioles chemoreceptors measure?
Co2 and pH levels
- central pathways - name them
♣ Medulla relay station (nucleus tractus solitaries)
♣ Vagal motor neurons (nucleus ambiguous)
♣ Pre-sympathetic neurons (RVLM)
- are all located in the brainstem
- central place where different inputs are integrated into different outputs
the nucleus tracts, the ambiguous and the RVLM are all located where?
the brainstem
- name some effects on BP
♣ Heart – heart rate, contractility
♣ Resistance vessels – TPR (reduce or increase it)
♣ Veins – CVP (capacitance vessels- if you want to mobilise more blood, constrict capacitance vessels, increased CVP and more blood sent back to the heart. Increased stretch on ventricles, CO increased due to Starling’s Law).
what are excitatory inputs?
e.g. arterial chemoreceptors, muscle metaboreceptors (work)
o Stimulation of reflexes
• Increase cardiac output, TPR, and blood pressure
PRESSOR RESPONSE
what are inhibitory inputs?
e.g. arterial baroreceptors, cardiac-pulmonary receptors
o Stimulation of reflexes
• Decrease cardiac output, TPR, and blood pressure
DEPRESSOR RESPONSE
what are arterial baroreceptors needed for?
- vital to maintain blood flow to brain and myocardium
- stretch/BP
- the body monitors blood pressure in carotid and coronary arteries
- Monitoring BP tells us about blood flow:
Pa = CO x TPR - A decrease in Pa reflects a decrease in CO or TPR which compromises blood flow to the brain and heart
- Blood pressure sensors in the walls of the carotid arteries/aorta informs the brain of pressure changes in these key feeder vessels. Reducing the pressure changes the flow
- Sensors detect arterial wall stretch
how do baroreceptors respond to changes in pressure?
Increase in pressure
o Not much firing at rest
o As pressure increases, there is fast firing which eventually slows down and becomes constant, but at a higher level than before
ADAPTATION to a new normal
Decrease in pressure o For a decrease in pressure, the firing slows down proportionately
how does continually high or continually low BP affect baroreceptors? give an example
the threshold for baroreceptor activation can change:
E.g. long-term hypertension, where the baroreceptors become normalised at the new pressure and are less activated
what is the effect of increased BP on baroreflex?
- Pulse pressure falls (decreased stroke volume)
- Vasodilation decreases TPR & BP
- Decreased sympathetic nerve activity
- Increased vagus nerve activity
what is the effect of decreased BP on baroreflex?
- Termed unloading (e.g. haemorrhage)
- Increased sympathetic activity and decreased vagus activity
- Increased HR and force of contraction so increased CO
- Arteriolar constriction = increased TPR
- Venous constriction increases CVP as well as SV and CO due to Starling’s Law
o This all maintains blood pressure and therefore blood flow to vital organs
Also:
o Adrenaline secretion, vasopressin (ADH) secretion & stimulation of RAAS (i.e. Angiotensin II increases Na/H2O absorption in kidneys raising blood volume)
- Vasoconstriction decreases capillary pressure which increases absorption of interstitial fluid which also increases blood volume.