Vascular Physiology Flashcards
What is cardiac hypertrophy?
Abnormal thickening of the heart muscle (AKA Left ventriclar hypertrophy)
What are the cells that make up the vascular system?
Endothelial cells
Smooth muscle cells
Fibroblasts
What vessels make up the circulatory system?
Arteries, capillaries, veins and lymph vessels
What is the purpose of valves in veins?
They prevent the back flow of blood and maintain the pressure of blood flowing back to the heart.
What role do capillaries have?
They form a network between arteries and veins
to allow the transfer of nutrients and waste to and from tissues.
Name the 3 types of capillaries
Continuous
Fenestrated
Sinusoid
What are continuous capillaries?
They contain small gaps in between endothelial cells for nutrient/waste exchange.
What are fenestrated capillaries?
Leakier than continuous capillaries. They contain small pores + small gaps between cells
Where are fenestrated capillaries mainly found?
In areas requiring lots of exchange between blood and tissues:
Small intestine
Kidneys
What are sinusoids capillaries?
the leakiest type of capillary. they allow the exchange of large molecules. They have large gaps in the capillary walls + pores & small gaps
Where are sinusoid capillaries found?
Liver
Spleen
Bone marrow (to allows newly produced blood cells to enter the bloodstream and circulate)
What is the lymphatic system?
Thin walled vessels, complementary to the circulatory system that carry lymph
What is lymph made up of?
Tissue fluid, fat and cells
What does the lymphatic system comprise of?
Lymph nodes, Ducts, vessels
How is blood flow regulated?
The contraction of the heart creating fluid force for the blood
The size of vessels
Action of smooth muscle cells
One way valves (in veins)
