Vascular Histology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 layers found in arteries and veins?

A
Tunica intima (inner most)
Tunica media (middle)
Tunica adventitia (outer most)
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2
Q

How are arteries and veins different?

A

arteries branch to decrease in diameter

veins merge to increase in diameter

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3
Q

Describe the layers of tunica intima

A

endothelium (simple squamous epithelial cells)

basal lamina (collagen, proteoglycans, glycoproteins)

subendothelial layer (loose CT) w/ internal elastic membrane

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4
Q

What is the internal elastic membrane?

A

found in the subendothelial layer of the tunica intima in ARTERIES & ARTERIOLES

fenestrated elastic material (many elastic fibers to add recoil properties to vessels)

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5
Q

How is the tunica intima different in veins from arteries?

A

tunica intima in veins contains valves

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6
Q

Describe the tunica media

A

part of layers that can contract to close off lumen

arranged layers of smooth muscle

extends from internal elastic membrane to external elastic membrane

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7
Q

What separates the tunica media & tunica adventitia?

A

layer of elastin

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8
Q

What is the tunica media composed of?

A

smooth m & varying amounts of elastin, reticular fibers & proteoglycans

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9
Q

Describe the tunica adventitia

A

longitudinal collagenous tissue w/ few elastic fibers

merges w/ loose CT surrounding the vessels (assoc w/ neurovasc bundles)

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10
Q

How is the tunica adventitia different in arteries & veins?

A

thin in arteries & thick in veins

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11
Q

How do the tunics receive blood & nervous innervation?

A

vasa vasorum & Nervi vasorum

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12
Q

What is the vasa vasorum?

A

vessels of the tunica adventitia that supply blood to vascular tunics (found in large arteries & veins)

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13
Q

What is the nervi vasorum?

A

ANS input that controls contraction of vascular smooth m (control of vascular tone)

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14
Q

Defining features of large arteries

A

lots of elastic fibers forming concentric sheets between muscle cell layers

NO fibroblasts (smooth m makes collagen, elastin & ECM)

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15
Q

Why do large arteries have lots of elastin?

A

strong pressure of blood pulsating during systole will expand arterial wall

large lumen size reduces pressure & allows strong blood flow to continue during diastole

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16
Q

What makes large arteries distinct on an image?

A

concentric sheets of elastin w/ in smooth m

tunica media makes up majority of wall

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17
Q

Defining features of medium (muscular) arteries

A

prominent internal elastic membrane (that lines the lumen) & external elastic membrane

smooth m cells arranged in SPIRAL fashion

thicker tunica adventitia

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18
Q

Defining features of small arteries

A

have up to 8 layers of smooth m & internal elastic membrane

19
Q

Defining features of arterioles

A

only 1-2 layers of smooth m & internal elastic membrane is more variable

20
Q

What is the role of arterioles?

A

flow regulators for capillary beds

where sympathetics act on tunica media to cause vasoconstriction & where parasympathetics act on tunica media to cause vasodilation

21
Q

Defining features of capillaries

A

smallest blood vessels that form capillary beds

vessels surrounded by Pericytes

single layer of endothelial cells

22
Q

What is the role of capillaries?

A

site of metabolic exchange

23
Q

What are Pericytes?

A

perivascular contractile cells w/ branching cytoplasmic processes surrounding capillaries

controlled by NO from endothelial cells & promote stability of capillaries & post-cap venules

24
Q

Where are endothelial cells found & what is their role?

A

single layer of cells forming innermost aspect of tunica intima

support basement membrane & produce collagen

involved in blood coagulation, thrombosis, local dilation & constriction

25
How do endothelial cells communicate?
via cell-cell junctions (# of junctions alter permeability) connection between endothelial cells defines capillary bed function
26
What are the 3 types of capillaries?
Continuous capillary Fenestrated capillary Discontinuous capillary
27
Defining features of continuous capillaries
tight, occluding junctions to seal of intercellular clefts continuous basement membrane & cells meet end-to-end
28
Where are continuous capillaries found? How does exchange occur in these capillaries?
throughout body in muscle, brain, peripheral nerves, exocrine glands all molecular exchange must occur via diffusion or transcytosis
29
Where are fenestrated capillaries found? How does exchange occur?
organs where molecular exchange w/ blood is important (endocrine glands, kidney, gallbladder) tight junctions w/ openings that allows greater exchange across endothelium (limited by size of molecule)
30
Where are discontinuous capillaries found? How does exchange occur?
where exchange of marcomolecules & cells must occur openly (bone marrow, liver, spleen) open exchange occurs b/c larger openings among endothelial cells (leaky & non-selective)
31
Describe flow of blood into & out of capillary bed
metarterioles branch off supplying arteriole & send blood into true capillaries gas exchange occurs in true capillaries blood leaves thru thoroughfare channel (distal end of metarteriole lacking smooth m) blood continues to flow into postcapillary venule
32
How do capillaries differ from metarterioles?
capillaries do NOT have smooth m
33
How is blood flow thru capillary beds regulated?
via sphincters of smooth m @ arterial end (on metarterioles) occurs differentially based on metabolic demand (sphincters shunt blood flow to different areas)
34
How do veins differ from arteries?
veins have thinner walls & lumen is larger which often collapses
35
Defining features of venules
post-capillary venules do NOT have tunica media muscular venules have some smooth m in tunica media & thin tunic adventitia
36
Defining features of small veins
have all 3 layers of tunics tunica media is 2-3 layers & thicker tunica adventitia (endothelium is continuous w/ 2-3 layers of smooth m)
37
Defining features of medium veins
thicker tunica media & adventitia, some elastic fibers contain valves, travel w/ muscular arteries
38
Defining features of large veins
tunica adventitia is thickest layer of vessel wall (blends w/ thin tunica media) has collagen, elastic fibers & fibroblasts longitudinal smooth m cells
39
Role of lymphatic vessels
circulate lymph thru most parts of body in 1 direction & return it to venous supply collects fluid that leaks out @ capillary bed due to pressure gradient & returns to blood volume can clean fluid to prevent infection
40
Defining features of lymphatic capillaries
close-ended tubes found among capillary beds w/ overlapping endothelial cells (1 way valves) incomplete basal lamina to increase permeability
41
How are endothelial cells of lymphatic capillaries connected?
openings held in place by ANCHORING FILAMENTS (so can collect as much fluid as possible)
42
Defining features of lymphatic vessels
have all vascular tunics & possess valves for 1 way flow walls increase in thickness & cells connected via tight junctions
43
What are afferent & efferent lymphatic vessels?
afferent lead into lymph node & efferent exit lymph node
44
Describe flow of lymph
``` lymphatic capillaries lymphatic vessels lymphatic trunks R lymphatic duct Thoracic duct Brachiocephalic v ```