The Vascular System

Question 1

What composes the vascular system

Answer 1

• blood
• systemic circulation
• pulmonary circulation
• lymphocytes
• lymphatic circulation

Question 2

What is the quantity of blood in the cardiovascular system

Answer 2

Ca 5L

Question 3

Describe the arterial blood

Answer 3

Blood living the heart
Bright red
High oxygen content

Question 4

Describe veinous blood

Answer 4

Blood returning to heart
Dark red
Lower oxygen content

Question 5

What is the composition of blood

Answer 5

• plasma (55%)
• red blood cells (45%)
• platelets (ca 1%)
• white blood cells (ca 1%)

Question 6

What are the different types of white blood cells ?

Answer 6

• monocytes
• lymphocytes
• eoisnophiles
• neutrophiles
• basophils

Question 7

What is the composition of plasma ?

Answer 7

Water, ions, proteins, gaz, nutrients, waste, hormones

Question 8

Where is blood produced ?

Answer 8

In the bone marrow

Question 9

What is the scientific name of red blood cell ?

Answer 9

Erythrocyte

Question 10

What is the function of erythrocytes ?

Answer 10

Made of hemoglobin, erythrocytes contain iron and O2 molecules bind to iron
Each hemoglobin protein can attach to 4 02 molecules
Therefore erythrocytes pick up O2 from the lungs and deliver it to cells body
Then they pick up the CO2 from the cells and delivers it back to the lungs

Question 11

What is the role of white blood cells ?

Answer 11

Scientifically named leucocytes
Part of the immune system
They navigate in the blood stream and the lymph
They are disease indicator 1% of blood volume

Question 12

What is the role of platelets

Answer 12

Scientifically called thrombocytes
They are part of the cytoplasm
They don’t have a nucleus
They form blood clotting

Question 13

List the types of blood vessels present in the body and their functions

Answer 13

Arteries : transport the blood away from heart
Arterioles : transport the blood away from artery to capillary
Capillaries : where exchanges of gaz and nutrients take place - connect arterioles to veinules
Veinules : transport blood from capillaries to veins
Veins: transport the blood from veinules to heart

Question 14

Is the vascular resistance higher in veins or arteries ?

Answer 14

Arteries (thicker walls, closer to heart, more blood pressure)

Question 15

What are the respective pressures of the cardiac output and veinous return ?

Answer 15

Cardiac output : 120 mmHg

Veinous return : 0 mmHg

Question 16

What are the 3 layers present in blood vessels ?

Answer 16

Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica externa

Question 17

What is the main anatomical specificity of veins

Answer 17

They posses valves preventing back flow of blood during veinous return

Question 18

What are the 3 vascular systems ?

Answer 18

• systemic circulation : loop from heart, rest of body and back to heart
• pulmonary circulation : loop heart - lungs- heart
• lymphatic system : lymph from interstitial fluid

Question 19

What are the characteristics of systemic circulation ?

Answer 19

Loop heart - body - heart
Causes the oxygenation of tissues 
High pressure system : 100 mmHg in average 
Must overcome the force of gravity 
Activated by the left side of the heart

Question 20

What are the characteristics of pulmonary circulation ?

Answer 20

Pulmonary blood pressure is lower than systemic blood pressure
Normal pulmonary artery pressure is 8-10 mmHg at rest. If higher than 25 at rest or 30 during activity it’s pulmonary hypertension
Right ventricule is narrower and the distance between heart and lungs is shorter so right ventricule is not meant to resist high pressure.

Question 21

What are the anatomical subdivisions of the aorta ?

Answer 21

Ascending aorta 
Aortic arch 
Descending aorta 
Thoracic aorta 
Abdominal aorta

Question 22

What are the arteries coming out of the ascending aorta

Answer 22

Left and right coronary arteries

Question 23

What are the arteries coming out of the aortic arch ?

Answer 23

• Brachiocephalic artery (then dividing into right subclavian artery and right common carotid artery)
• left common carotid artery
• left subclavian artery

Question 24

What is the location of the aortic arch ?

Answer 24

The superior mediastinum

Level of the lower border of T4

Question 25

What are the features of descending aorta ?

Answer 25

Location : inferior posterior mediastinum down to lower border of T12
Associated vessels : 
Thoracic aorta supplying : 
—> Intercostal arteries 
—> Subcostal arteries 
—> Phrenic arteries 
Abdominal aorta supplying : 
—> inferior phrenic arteries 
—> celiac trunk 
—> superior mesenteric arteries 
—> renal and gonadal arteries 
—>inferior mesenteric artery 
—> lumbar arteries 
—> common iliac arteries

Question 26

What is the role of the lymphatic system ?

Answer 26

Supporting the cardio-vascular system by collecting, filtering and returning interstitial fluid back to the blood stream via a system of lymphatic vessels

Question 27

What is the functional unit of the lymphatic system ?

Answer 27

The lymphangion : morphofunctional unit composed of epithelial cell and valves

Question 28

What are the two anatomical subdivisions of the lymphatic system ?

Answer 28

The right lymphatic duct

The thoracic duct

Question 29

What are the 2 lymphatic pathways ?

Answer 29

Lymph capillaries 
Lymph vessels 
Right lymphatic duct 
Right subclavian vein 
Superior veina cava

Lymph capillaries 
Lymph vessels
Thoracic ducts 
Left subclavian vein 
Superior veina cava