Venous Hemodynamics Flashcards
What is the major function of veins?
- to act as a conduit for the flow of blood back to the heart
- participates in regulation of the circulation
Describe the walls of veins
thin walled and collapsible
Describe veins during normal function
- low pressure
- partially filled w/ blood and only partially expanded
*How much blood is found in the venous system”?
-80% of the blood in the body is found in the venous system
How can veins change size?
- veins can constrict or enlarge to change peripheral resistance and alter flow
- increase in pressure of a vein can contain 6-10X the volume of blood as an artery of comparable size.
When is venous pressure the lowest?
-when patient is lying flat (supine or prone)
When is venous pressure the highest?
when patient is standing
How can veins vary their resistance to blood flow?
by changing the cross-sectional area
What happens when veins are partially empty? (shape-wise and function)
-they assume an elliptical cross-sectional shape, which offers a great deal of resistance to blood flow as they take on a more circular shape
What happens when veins are distended?
-they offer almost no resistance to blood flow as they take on a more circular shape
What is the importance of the radius to the resistance?
-their ability to change shape permits veins to accommodate increases in blood flow w/o causing increases in the pressure gradient to the heart
*What is transmural pressure?
- *the pressure on the walls of a vessel
- *the difference between the pressure exerted on the venous walls from within the vein (intraluminal pressure) and from outside the veins (interstitial pressure) and is related to the amount or volume of blood in the vein
What is the normally the pressure within the veins?
low and pushing outward
What does a large circular shape in veins do?
can carry more blood w/o an increase in pressure and offer less resistance to flow
What do flattened veins do?
with low volume they offer more resistance to flow
*Where is the greatest portion of circulating blood located? and how much?
- *in the venous system
- *veins carry about 2/3rds of the blood in the body
What happens to veins in the supine position?
-they take on an elliptical shape due to low transmural pressure
What happens to veins in the standing position?
they take on a circular shape due to high transmural pressure
What happens when intraluminal pressure is higher than pressure in surrounding tissue?
transmural pressure increases, distending the vessel
What happens when intraluminal pressure is lower than surrounding tissue pressure?
-transmural pressure is low, and the vessel collapses
What is the transmural pressure normally in the venous system?
-very low, which allows for a flexible shape and increased compressibility
What happens when the pressure in the venous system increases to an abnormal level?
the veins become engorged w/ blood and demonstrate diminished flexibility/compressibility
What is a major force affecting the venous system?
hydrostatic pressure