Vessels & Hemodynamics Flashcards
How do vessels contribute to homeostasis?
VESSELS:
- Provide flow to and from heart
- Provide tissue exchange
- Adjust velocity & volume of blood flow
What are the three turnicas (layers) of blood vessels?
- Tunica Interna (endothelium)
- Turnica Media (smooth muscles)
- Turnica Externa - Elastic and contains numerous nerves and helps anchor vessels to surrounding tissue.
Turnica Interna is the inner most blood vessel layer - what is it made up of?
Turnica Interna is made up of epithelial cells, collagen fibers, elastic fibers. In direct contact with blood as it flows through lumen
Turnica Media is the middle blood vessel layer - what is it made up of?
Turnica Media is made up of muscular & connective tissue, smooth muscle cells, elastic fibers
Turnica Externa is the outer most blood vessel layer - what is it made up of?
Turnica Externa is made up of numerous nerves, elastic and collagen fibres.
Large arteries are termed:
Large arteries are termed:
Elastic (conducting) arteries
Medium- sizes arteries are called:
Medium- sizes arteries are called:
Muscular (distributing) arteries.
Arteries
- Consists of the three typical layers: Thick muscular and elastic tunica media
- High Compliance: Great stretch and recoil capacity in response to blood pressure
- Arteries must be able to stretch and recoil as they control the flow of blood.
What is an arteries turnica media like?
The tunica media of arteries is innervated by sympathetic fibres of ANS
- Increased SNS stimulation or damage to BV > smooth muscle contraction > narrowing of lumen = vasoconstriction
- Decreased SNS stimulation or presence of certain chemicals > smooth muscle relaxation > increase in lumen diameter = vasodilation
What are the largest arteries in the body?
Elastic arteries - the aorta and pulmonary trunk (they both exit the heart and are the size of a garden hose - with smaller finger size arteries off them).
What am I?
- Medium-sized arteries.
- Tunica media contains more smooth muscle fibers – hence named muscular artery
- Capable of greater vasoconstriction and vasodilation to adjust rate of blood flow
- 3 to 40 layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle cells depending on size of artery
- Branch off from larger elastic arteries
- Vessel wall approx 25% of total vessel diameter (thicker than elastic arteries)
- Femoral and axillary artery - pencil-sized
Arteries that enter organs - string-sized
- Have well-defined internal elastic lamina, but thin external elastic lamina
- Tunica interna
Not significantly different
- Tunica media
contains more smooth muscle fibres than elastic arteries
Ability to maintain a state of partial contraction = vascular tone
contains fewer elastic fibers than elastic arteries.
Less ability to recoil to help propel blood
- Tunica externa
Often thicker than tunica media
loosely structured permits diameter change but prevents shortening or retraction if cut
Muscular (Distributing) Arteries
- Medium-sized arteries.
- Tunica media contains more smooth muscle fibers – hence named muscular artery.
- Capable of greater vasoconstriction and vasodilation to adjust rate of blood flow.
- 3 to 40 layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle cells depending on size of artery.
R & L Axillary arteries
- armpit
R & L Brachial arteries
- arm
R & L Radial arteries
- forearm
R & L Femoral arteries
– femur of leg
Anastomoses
Union of branches of two or more vessels supplying same body region. Arteries that do not anastomose called end arteries.
Arterioles = Regulate blood flow into capillary networks, what is their structure?
Arterioles = small vessels
Wall thickness 50% of total vessel diameter
Arterioles = small vessels - what is their function?
Contraction of smooth muscles > vasoconstriction > increased resistance > decreased blood flow into capillaries
Arterioles regulate blood flow from arteries to capillaries by regulating resistance
Resistance – the opposition to blood flow, mainly due to friction between blood and inner wall of BV’s. The narrower the lumen, the greater the friction and therefore the greater the resistance.
Why is the venous system is the body’s reservoir.
Blood pressure goes up when blood rushes up. Digestion put on hold when we run/use muscles. The arterioles are involved/responsible for this. They determine where the blood goes, depending on what activity we are undertaking.
Every organ, every cell is part of a capillary bed. Blood shifts to where it is needed (eg to lungs and muscles when running, to venous system + spleen/liver, when resting).
Sphincter & arterioles
If the sympathetic nervous system gives the signal, then the sphincters contract and blood flows.
Precapillary sphincter – composed of most distal muscle cell. Regulates blood flow into and out of the capillary network
What are capillaries?
Capillaries:
- Smallest blood vessel
- Most have diameter of 5 -10mm
- Connect arterial outflow to venous return
- Form extensive network (20billion approx) of short, branched, interconnecting vessels that reach all individual cells of body
What is the function of capillaries?
The primary function of capillaries is exchange of substances between the blood and interstitial fluid. Hence also called ‘exchange vessels’
Structure of capillaries
Structure of capillaries:
No tunica media or externa
Single layer of epithelial cells & basement membrane only
Provides optimal flow of substances from blood to interstitial fluid
Note: Exchange of materials only occurs through the walls of capillaries and the beginning of venules
Vasomotion
Typical intermittent contraction/relaxation occuring 5-10 times per min.
Vasomotion is typical for blood flow through capillaries.
Types of capillaries
Continuous – wont allow much through
Fenestration – openings/windows
Sinusoids – have complete paths missing so larger things can go through.
Continuous capillaries
- Most capillaries are continuous
- Plasma membranes of neighbouring endothelial cells are packed tightly > forms a continuous tube except for the slight gaps between the endothelial cells called intercellular clefts
- Found in: brain, lungs, skeletal & smooth muscle, connective tissues