Special Circulations: coronary; cerebral; pulmonary; skeletal Flashcards
Where do the left/right coronary arteries arise from?
- base of the aorta
- at the aortic sinuses
- in the aortic (semilunar) valve
Where does most coronary venous blood drain into?
- coronary sinus (into right atrium)
Where does coronary heart disease commonly occur?
- left side (anterior surface) of heart
Name 3 special adaptations of coronary circulation
- high capillary density (exchange of O2/nutrients helps oxygenate cardiac muscle)
- high basal blood flow
- high O2 extraction
Describe O2 extraction by the heart
- heart extracts ~75% of O2 from blood (compared to 25% whole body average) under resting conditions
Can the heart increase O2 extraction (to increase oxygenation of cardiac muscle)?
- no (heart already extracts so much O2, cannot manage any more!)
How can oxygenation of the heart be improved (if we can’t extract more oxygen from the blood?)
- increase coronary blood flow
Name the intrinsic mechanism of controlling coronary blood flow
- decreased PO2 (hypoxia): vasodilation of CA
- metabolic hyperaemia (increased blood flow): matches flow to O2 demand
- adenosine (from ATP breakdown): potent vasodilator
Name the extrinsic mechanisms of controlling coronary blood flow
- sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves supply coronary arterioles (THIS IS NOT WANTED)
- metabolic hyperaemia overcomes vasoconstriction
- this occurs as a result of increasing HR + SV (>CO)
- circulating adrenaline is released from adrenal cortex
- adrenaline activates beta 2 adrenoceptors
- this causes vascular smooth muscle dilation (similar to sympathetic effect on bronchial smooth muscle)
What is the sympathetic process of coronary vasodilaton called?
- function sympatholysis
Does sympathetic stimulation on alpha adrenoceptors improve coronary blood flow?
- no (vasoconstrictor = reduces blood flow)
What causes metabolic hyperaemia?
- increased cardiac work (SV/HR)
What metabolites are released as a result of metabolic hyperaemia?
- K+
- Co2
- H+
When does peak LEFT coronary blood flow occur?
- during diastole
- left CA is situated near left ventricle
- systole = high pressure in LV (+ left CA)
coronary blood flow falls during systole
Describe peak RIGHT coronary blood flow
- right CA situated close to RV
- systole: RV squeezed
- lower pressure in RV than LV
- blood flow to right CA not reduced as much
- blood flow between systole + diastole remains similar
What is the effect of shortening diastole on coronary blood flow?
- reduced diastole
- reduced coronary blood flow
- ischaemia
- chest pain
What can cause reduced diastole?
- tachycardia
What supplies arterial blood to the brain?
- internal carotids
- vertebral arteries
Describe the effect of hypoxia on grey matter in the brain
- grey matter = very sensitive to hypoxia
- unconsciousness after a few seconds of ischaema
- irreversible necrosis (cell damage) within ~3mins
Give an alternative (latin) name for the circle of Willis
Circulus Arteriosus Cerebri
What is the circle of Wilis?
- anastomotic system of arteries that lies at the base of the brain
- formed when the internal carotid artery enters the cranial cavity (bilaterally) and divides into the anterior cerebral + middle cerebral arteries
Describe the branching of the anterior cerebral artery
- anterior cerebral arteries are united by anterior communicating arteries
- these connections form the anterior half of the circle of Willis
Describe the posterior branches of the circle of Willis
- posteriorly, the BASILAR artery is formed by the left/right vertebral arteries
- basilar arteries branch into a left/right posterior cerebral artery
- posterior cerebral arteries complete the circle of Willis by joining the internal carotid system anteriorly via the posterior communicating attires
How is cerebral perfusion maintained?
- via function of circle of Willis
- even if the carotids are obstructed, perfusion can be maintained via the other cerebral arteries