the circulatory system Flashcards
main function of the circulatory system?
what are the components of the circulatory system?
circulatory fluids are?
blood or hemolymph
what’s the vascular system?
arteries, capillaries, veins
what’s the propulsory organ of the circulatory system?
heart
What determines the movement of circulatory fluid through an animal’s body?
how can the unidirectional movement be assured?
presence of valves and/or septa
what is hemodynamics?
- study of the physical principles governing the movement of blood within the circulatory system
- it examines factors such as
- blood pressure
- blood flow
- vascular resistance - Hemodynamics considers how these factors interact to maintain proper circulation throughout the body
- ensuring delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and removal of waste products
what’s the volumetric flow rate (Q)?
- the volume of circulatory fluid that is set in motion in the unit of time
- directly proportional to the pressure difference
what vessel-types are there?
- arteries
- arterioles
- capillaries
- veins
arteries
(number, special feature, functions)
- number: several hundred
- special features:
- thick, highly elastic walls
- large radii - functions:
- passageway from heart to organs
- serve as pressure reservoir
arterioles
(number, special feature, functions)
- number: half a million
- special features:
- highly muscular, well innervated walls
- small radii - functions:
- primary resistance vessels
- determine distribution of cardiac output
capillaries
(number, special feature, functions)
- number: ten billion
- special features:
- very thin walled
- large total cross-sectional area - functions:
- site of exchange
- determine distribution of extracellular fluid between plasma and interstitial fluid
veins
(number, special feature, functions)
- number: several hundred
- special features:
- thin walled compared to arteries
- highly distensible
- large radii - functions:
- passageway to the heart from organs
- serve as blood reservoir
in the circulatory system, how is the potential energy transformed to kinetic energy?
- potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy as blood moves through the blood vessels
- transformationdue to the pressure generated by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries
describe the energy within the circulatory system
(4 steps)
- Potential Energy in the Heart
- heart contracts during systole
- generates pressure that pushes blood into the arteries
- pressure creates potential energy within the blood - Conversion to Kinetic Energy:
- blood moves from the arteries to smaller arterioles and then to capillaries
- the pressure gradually decreases
- kinetic energy of the blood increases as it accelerates through narrower vessels due to the conservation of mass and the principle of fluid dynamics - Blood Flow:
- kinetic energy of the blood allows it to flow through the circulatory system
- delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs
- while removing waste products
- blood flow driven by the pressure difference between the arteries and veins
- also driven by the pumping action of the heart - Return to Potential Energy:
- as blood moves through the capillaries and into the veins, its kinetic energy decreases as it encounters increasing resistance to flow
- decrease in kinetic energy is associated with a decrease in pressure
- when blood returns to the heart, it has largely transitioned back to potential energy
- ready to be pumped out again during the next cardiac cycle
high or low velocity after heart?
- high
- max pressure
- max velocity when potential energy becomes kinetic energy
is the transversal area in the circulatory system constant?
no
velocity, area and pressure from heart to capillaries?
- area increases
- velocity decreases
- pressure decreases
what happens after the velocity decreases?
- pressure decreases
- probability of energy transformation to movement decreases
- diameter of vessel increases
what’s the name of the process during the exchange in capillaries?
- diffusion
- passive
- using the gradient
- takes time
why is the velocity so low in the capillaries?
- Gradient needs enough time to have the possibility to exchange oxygen, glucose, etc. with interstitial fluid
- passive diffusion with gradients
- active transport of e.g. glucose
- takes time because transporters are involved
- time to bind etc. - crucial because it allows sufficient time for the exchange
why is high pressure in capillaries risky?
because there is not so much support of the walls
from a microscopic view, is the movement of particles during capillary exchange quick or slow?
- quick
from a macroscopic view, is the movement of particles during capillary exchange quick or slow?
- slow
- that allows for sufficient time for the exchange of substances between the blood and the tissue fluid
how does the velocity develop after passing the capillaries?
velocity increases
1. Decrease in cross-sectional area leads to increase in velocity because vessel diameter increases
2. Decrease in total-vascular resistance
- larger blood vessels have less resistance due to their larger lumens and fewer branches
- moves quicker in larger vessels
3. Smooth muscle contraction
- veins contain smooth muscle in their walls
- can contract or relax to regulate blood flow
- when smooth muscle contracts, it can squeeze blood forward, contributing to an increase in velocity
4. Gravity and Muscular Pump
- contribute to an increase in blood velocity as it moves from the lower extremities back towards the heart
5. One-Way Valves
- prevents back flow
- unidirectional
is the pressure in the aorta, arteries and arterioles linear?
- no, with peaks
Why do pressure peaks occur in the aorta, arteries, and arterioles?
- pressure peaks occur due to heart activity
- with systolic pressure representing high peaks
- and diastolic pressure representing low peaks
Why do the pressure peaks disappear or decrease as blood flows through the capillaries?
Pressure peaks disappear or decrease due to the properties of capillary walls
- capillaries have thin, compliant walls
- can expand to accommodate the incoming blood volume during systole and recoil during diastole
- elastic recoil helps to dampen pressure fluctuations, resulting in a smoother flow of blood through the capillaries
- Diameter Changes: Capillaries undergo vasomotion, altering diameter to dissipate pressure
- Energy Dissipation: Blood flow through resistance vessels dissipates energy, smoothing pressure peaks
Importance of Disappearing Pressure Peaks
- Capillary Function: Ensures constant flow and low pressure for efficient exchange.
- Elastic Components: Capillary walls have elastic properties aiding pressure regulation.
- Tissue Health: Steady flow in capillaries supports nutrient and waste exchange for tissue health.
what is an open circulatory system?
what is a closed circulatory system?
what about the relationship of the volume and pressure of hemolymph and blood in open and closed circulatory systems?
- open
- high hemolymph volume
- space available for hemolymph in whole body
- low hemolymph pressure - closed
- low blood volume
- space available for blood only in vessels
- high blood pressure
- allows a flow under long distances
besides these facts of closed circulatory system, what other features are there?
vasoconstriction?
- narrows blood vessels, increasing pressure inside the vessel
- mechanism: Constriction of vessel walls reduces vessel diameter, leading to increased pressure
vasodilation?
- opposite of vasoconstriction
- widens blood vessels, decreasing pressure inside the vessel
what does it mean, the high blood pressure allows ultrafiltration at the capillary level?
what are the functions of circulatory systems related to movement and erection?
overview: Arterial system
- property: pressure reservoir
what’s important in definition of arterial system?
- the position: from heart to tissue
- wrong would be O2-rich blood
why? - e.g. pulmonary arterie brings O2-poor blood from heart to tissue
do fish have a large or short ventral aorta?
- a short one (possible due to fish heart structure)
- it’s very elastic for regulating the blood flow that goes to the gills
what does a fish heart consist of?
- venous sinus (collects deoxygenated blood from various parts of the body and transports it back to the heart; often serve as large reservoirs for venous blood)
- atrium
- ventricle
- bulbus arteriosum
structure of fish heart
- respiratory and systemic circulatory systems are NOT separated
- blood enters from right
- bulbus arteriosum is important for buffering pressure variations
blood pressure in fish
- pericardium is a double-walled sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels
- Ventricular systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle during which the ventricles contract and pump blood out of the heart
pericardium
- Definition: Double-layered sac surrounding the heart.
- Function: Protects the heart, anchors it in place, and prevents overfilling.
Pericardium in Fish
- Description: Pericardium is semi-rigid in fish.
- Function: Maintains negative pressure lower than atrial pressure.
- Purpose: Facilitates rapid filling during ventricular systole.
Aortic Pressure Regulation in Fish
- Description: Difference in aortic pressure between ventricular systole and diastole is limited.
- Mechanism: High elasticity of the bulbs arteriosum.
- Importance: Ensures efficient circulation and prevents excessive pressure fluctuations.
overview: Venous system
- property: volume reservoir
why does the blood or hemolymph spend more time in veins than arteries?
- due to low velocity in veins
- therefor: lots of blood inside the veins
what helps the flow and movement in the veins?
- a muscle structure that contracts and squeezes the vein structure
- increases pressure
- increases flow
what problem comes due to squeezing the veins and how is it solved?
- problem: two directions of flow when squeezing
- solved by valves
- Valves opening and closing is mechanical
- Opening through pushing due to increase of pressure
- Closed valve: closed due to increase of pressure after valve structure
- It’s a mechanical movement (both)
how large are capillaries in diameter?
- 1mm long
- diameter: 3-10 micrometer
blood cells are usually 50 micrometer in diameter. how can they pass capillaries?
- blood cells deformation allow the flow through capillaries
- Important is the structure of capillaries: no vessel constriction in capillaries
- The capillary wall is made up of a single layer of endothelial cells resting on a basement membrane (collagen and glucosaminoglycans)
capillary network overview
What are the two primary forces involved in the movement of substances across capillary walls?
- it’s two forces that act in opposite directions
How do proteins retained in capillaries influence fluid movement?
Proteins retained in capillaries create a force that attracts water, known as the osmotic force.
What happens to the forces at the start of the capillary?
- At the start of the capillary, there is a significant outward pressure (blood pressure) and osmotic pressure.
- The combination favors blood pressure, with the sum of pressures being 11 mm Hg, thus favoring exit from the capillary.
- Substances must enter the interstitial fluid to reach different cells afterwards
How do pressure dynamics change at the middle of the capillary?
- At the middle of the capillary, decreasing volume leads to decreasing pressure.
- Although transfer stops, the process continues.
- Osmotic pressure remains constant
- while blood pressure decreases.
- The sum now favors osmotic pressure, at 9 mm Hg, directing substances from interstitial fluid into the capillary
- e.g., uptake of CO2 produced by cells
What changes in pressure occur during capillary exchange?
- Initially, there is an outward pressure of 11 mm Hg
- followed by an inward pressure of 9 mm Hg.
- It’s important to note that the amount leaving is not equal to what returns inside.
What problems can arise if interstitial fluid increases?
- Increased interstitial fluid leads to inflation, as substances transfer through it via simple diffusion.
- The increased fluid increases transfer time, necessitating the maintenance of a constant amount of interstitial fluid.