Special Circulations: Cerebral and Pulmonary Flashcards
How much of the resting cardiac output does the brain use?
15%. It is the most metabolically active tissue of the body.
How does the Blood Brain Barrier work?
It limits the transport of substances from the circulation into the brain, with some substances like EtOH/O2/CO2 able to cross it.
What are the factors that affect cerebral blood flow?
Autoregulation
Tissue Pressure
Metabolism
Neural Control
What is the normal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) of the brain?
80-100 mmHg
How does autoregulation affect cerebral blood flow?
If the CPP falls outside of its normal range, auto regulation will serve to correct these changes immediately.
If the CPP falls, how does auto regulation respond?
Cerebral vasodilation occurs to decrease the resistance in the arteries
If the CPP rises, how does auto regulation respond?
Cerebral vasoconstriction occurs to increase the resistance in the vessels
How does tissue pressure affect cerebral blood flow as CSF pressure increases?
As CSF pressure increases, veins will collapse against the pressure of the CSF but arteries will remain open due to their higher pressure. Autoregulation will dilate arteries to keep blood flow available, but flow will rapidly decrease as CSF pressure approaches arterial pressure.
What is the CPP equal to?
Mean Arterial Pressure - Intracranial Venous Pressure = CPP
What happens as intracranial pressure increases?
Vascular compression will occur
What is the Monro-Kellie Doctrine?
When the volume of one compartment increases, there must be a compensatory change in the volumes of the other compartments.
What is the equation of the Monro-Kelli Doctrine?
Brain Volume + Cerebral Vascular Volume + CSF Volume = Constant Value
What metabolite is the cerebral blood flow especially sensitive to?
CO2
As pH decreases, what happens to blood flow?
Vasodilation will occur and it will increase blood flow by decreasing the resistance.
As pH increases, what happens to the blood flow?
Vasoconstriction will occur and it will decrease blood flow by increasing the resistance.
Do changes in systemic pH affect the cerebral blood flow?
No, because H+ cannot cross the BBB easily.
How are pH changes in the brain occurring?
CO2 can cause pH changes as it can cross the BBB.
What is the effect of increased CO2 in the blood?
Vasodilation will occur and it will increase blood flow by decreasing the resistance.