Vascular System Flashcards
Where is the tunica intima? What does it contain?
- located closes to the lumen of the cell
- contains a single layer of squamous epithelial cells (endothelium)
- can have a subendothelial layer (in large vessels)
- interal elastic lamina (tube of elastic running up and down the vessel)
What are the three layers of vessels? what does each layer (Generally) contain?
- Tunica intima (closest to the lumen): contains endothelium, subendothelium, internal elastic lamina
- Tunica media: contains smooth muscles, fibroelastic CT, elastic lamellae… thus contains elastic fibers, type I/III collagen, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY. Also contains an external elastic lamina
- Tunica adventitia: contains colllagenous CT, fibroblasts, elastic fibers, smooth muscle (elastic fibers, type I/III collagen, arranged LONGITUDNIALLY)
Also contains vaso vasorum, nervi vascularis
what is the subendothelial layer of the tunica intima composed of?
loose CT
ONLY FOUND IN LARGER VESSELS
Tunica Media: what does it contain
Depending on the vessel type/size:
either smooth muscle or elastic lamellae (sheets) arranges CIRCUMFERENTIALLY
-also an external elastic membrane in some vessels
Explain the course of the pulmonary and systemic circulation
pulmonary: deoxygenated blood goes through the pulmonary arteries (from heart) and into the lungs, where it gets oxygenated and leaves (back to the heart) via the pulmonary veins
systemic: oxygenated blood leaves the heart via the aorta, goes through arteries/arterioles/capillaries becomes deoxygenated and travels via /venules/veins/IVC or SVC back into the heat
what does the smooth muscle in the tunica media produce?
the extracellular molecules: type I and III collagen, elastic fibers
Tunica Adventitia: what does it contain?
longitudinally arranged type I collagen and elastic fibers, type III collagen, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts
-can contain blood vessels (in large vessels)= vaso vasorum, lymphatic vessels, and nerves = nervi vascularis
what are nervi vascularis and what is their function
nerves found in the tunica adventia of a blood vessel (a large vessel).
control the contraction of smooth muscle in the vessel walls
Vascular endothelium
-simple squamous epithelium with the long axis of the cell aligned in the direction of flow
-rest on the basal lamina
-first barrier between the blood and surrounding tissue
(part of the tunica intima)
what is the function of the vascular endothelium?
- control the 2-way traffic between blood and the vessel (into/out of blood/vessel) MAINTAIN SELECTIVE PERMEABILITY
- MAINTAIN THROMBOGENIC SURFACE, INDUCE CLOTTING, DISSOLVE CLOTS, via secretion
- REGULATE LEUKOCYTE MIGRATION
- REGULATE VASCULAR RESISTANCE (vasodilation/constriction)
how do endothelial cells regulate the thrombosis functions of blood vessels?
secretion of
- Antithrombogenic agents: thrombomodulin, prostacyclin, NITRIC OXIDE.. MAINTAINS NONTHROMBO SURFACE
- prothrombogenic agents: von Williebrand factor (tissue thromboplastin, factor III) INDUCE CLOTTING
- Thrombolytic agents: tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) DISSOLVES CLOTS
what are the antithrombotic agents?
nitric oxide, thrombomodulin, prostacyclin
what is a prothrombotic agent?
von Williebrand factor, thrombin
induce blood clotting
What is the function of an artery? What are the 3 types of arteries?
conduct blood away from the heart and distribute it throughout the body.
- elastic arteries
- muscular arteries
- arterioles
what is elastic lamellae
concentric tubular fenestrated elastic sheets
what is the internal elastic lamellae? what division of a vessel is it a part of?
part of the tunica intima
its the first elastic lamellae
what is the external elastic lamellae? what tunic is it a part of
part of the tunica media.
it is the last elastic lamellae in a vessel
what marks the border of the tunica media?
the internal and external elastic lamina
what is the function of the fenestrae in lamellae? what are fenestrae?
they are little holes that function in the diffusion of substances within the vessel wall.
the ______ of lamellae in the tunica intima increases with age and hypertension
total number/thickness
what is the function of elastic arteries?
conducting vessels: they are the first vessels to receive blood from the heart and transport blood from the heart to the muscular arteries.
what are some examples of elastic arteries?
aorta, common carotid, subclavian, pulmonary trunk
describe the tunica intima of muscular arteries
prominent internal elastic lamina!
-endothelium, CT (thin!)
what is the significance of the high elastic content in the wall of elastic arteries
- facilitates continuos and uniform movement of blood along the artery
- maintains blood pressure between heart contractions
- help “smooth out” blood pulses ejected from the heart
what is the distinguishing characteristic of elastic arteries?
LOTS OF WAVY SHEETS (Concentric lamellae) in the tunica media
describe the tunica intima of elastic arteries
endothelium, connective tissue, internal elastic lamina
describe the tunica media of elastic arteries
40-70 concetric elastic lamellae with smooth muscle cells between the lamellae
- includes the external elastic lamina
- the smooth muscle cells secrete type I and type III collagen, ground substance
describe the tunica adventitia of elastic arteries
longitudinally arranged collagen and elastic fibers
- vaso vasorum and nervi vascularis may be present
- about 1/2 the thickness of tunica media
describe the tunica media of muscular arteries
3-40 layers of CONCENTRICALLY arranged SMOOTH MUSCLE cells
- collagen fibers and some elastic material present (NOT IN SHEETS/LAMELLAE)
- external elastic lamina present
describe the tunica adventitia of muscular arteries
-relatively thick layer (around the same thickness as tunica media)
LONGITUDINALLY arranged collagen (most prominent), fibroblasts, and elastic fibers
-may have vaso vasorum or nervi vascularis in larger vessels
why are vaso vasorum and nervi vascularis only present in larger vessels?
Because the smaller vessels can get everything they need via diffusion from blood through tunics
what is an anti-thrombotic agent
dissolves clots
**TPA: tissue plasminogen activator (changes plasminogen to plasmin which dissolves clots).. its what they give stroke patients!
what are discontinuous capillaries?
larger of the capillaries;
- have irregular channels that conform to the shape of the structure in which they are located
- have wide gaps within and between the endothelial cells
- no diaphragms or membrane bridge the gap (like in fenestrae).. thus MASS MOVEMENT OF MOLECULES!
what are some examples of muscular arteries?
femoral, brachial, renal
what is the distinguishing characteristic of muscular arteries?
3-40 layers of smooth muscles
- usually a PROMINENT internal elastic lamina (in tunica intima)
- lack of concentric elastic lamellae
describe the tunica intima of arterioles
basically just endothelim, maybe a small subendothelial layer
internal elastic lamina may be present