the vascular system Flashcards
functions of blood
- transport nutrients like O2 and glucose
- protect and fight disease
- maintain homeostasis and regulate temperature
arteries
- carries oxgenated blood to heart and muscles
- high pressure and speed
- large layer of smooth muscles allows vasoconstriction and dilation
arterioles
- divided from arteries slows blood flow
- ring of smooth muscle surrounding the entry of capillaries called pre- capillary sphincters that dilate and constrict
capillaries
- brings blood close for muscles for gaseous exchange
- one cell thick
veins and venules
- transports deoxygenated back to heart
- venules leaving capillary beds reconnect to form veins
- small layer of smooth muscle to allow venodilation/constriction
- one way pocket valves
venous return
the return of blood back to the heart largely against gravity
mechanisms of venous return
assist blood back to the heart to maximise venous return during exercise
pocket valves
prevent the back flow of blood
smooth muscles
venoconstricts to create venomotor tone which aids the movement of blood
gravity
blood from the upper body, above the heart is helped to return by gravity therefore its passive
muscle pump
skeletal muscles contract compressing veins located between them squeezing the blood back to the heart
respiratory pump
- during breathing a pressure difference between the thoracic and abdominal cavity is created squeezing blood back to the heart
- as exercise increases f the respiratory pump is maximised
redistribution of blood
from 20% at rest to 88%
vasomotor control centre (VCC)
found in the medulla oblongata in the brain and controls the vascular shunt mechanism
vasomotor tone
the partial state of smooth muscle constriction in the arterial walls//;