Vascular Physiology Flashcards
Non-conditioning organs
heart, skeletal muscles
The vascular tree consists of…
arteries- carry blood from heart to tissues
arterioles- smaller branches of arteries
capillaries- smaller branches of arterioles that perform all exchanges with surrounding cells
venules- formed when capillaries rejoin and return blood to heart
veins- formed when venules merge and return blood to heart
Blood vessel walls are composed of alternating layers of ..
connective tissue (elastic and collagen fibers), smooth muscle and epithelial cells
Outermost layer of blood vessel
tunica externa/adventitia
Middle layer of blood vessel
tunica media
Innermost layer of blood vessel
tunica intima
What does blood flow depend on?
pressure in vascular system and resistance developed in vascular system
flow rate of blood
the volume of blood passing through a blood vessel per unit of time
pressure gradient
pressure difference between the beginning and end of a vessel (H–>L)
resistance
measure of opposition to blood flow through a vessel
what causes resistance
friction between moving fluid/blood against the stationary vessel wall
resistance to blood flow is dependent on 3 factors..
- blood viscosity (fluid dependent)
- vessel length (vessel dependent)
- vessel radius (vessel dependent)
Blood viscosity
friction between the molecules of a flowing fluid
Blood viscosity is determined by..
number of RBCs
relationship between #RBCS, friction, viscosity, resistance and blood flow
more RBCS= more friction= more viscous= greater resistance= less blood flow
less RBCs= less friction= less viscous= less resistance= more blood flow
Is blood viscosity important to controlling resistance?
No, relatively constant
relationship between vessel length, SA, resistance, blood flow
longer vessel= greater SA= more resistance= less blood flow
shorter vessel= less SA= less resistance= more blood flow
Is vessel length important to controlling resistance?
No- not a variable factor (cannot control it)
relationship between vessel radius, resistance and blood flow
bigger radius= less resistance= more blood flow
smaller radius= more resistance= less blood flow
Is vessel radius important to controlling resistance?
YES- it is a major determinant of resistance to flow, major variable
arteries 2 functions
- serve as ‘rapid-transit passageways’ for blood from the heart to the organs
- act as a ‘pressure reservoir’ to provide a driving force for blood when heart is relaxing
collagen fibers
provide tensile strength, temporarily expand without damage
elastin fibres
provide elasticity to arterial walls
systolic pressure
maximum (peak) pressure is exerted in the arteries when blood is ejected into them during cardiac systole
heart contract –> increase blood to arteries
averages 120mmHg
diastolic pressure
minimum (less) pressure in arteries when blood is draining off into vessels downstream during diastole
averages 80mmHg
Pulse pressure
pressure difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
40mmHg
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
average pressure driving blood forward into the tissues throughout the cardiac cycle
=diastolic pressure + 1/3 pulse pressure = 93mmHg
=cardiac output x total peripheral resistance
2 criteria about MAP
1) must be high enough to ensure sufficient driving pressure
2) must not be SO high, it creates hard work for the heart, causing a rupture in the small blood vessels in the brain (capillaries cannot withstand high pressure because they are not elastic and are instead narrow and single celled)