Week 3 Cardiovascular Part 2 Flashcards
Why is it important for nurses to understand the cardiovascular system?
Because it it the road network for the entire body
Because of the prevalence of CV related illness in society and the cost to the HC system
Because CV health is a predictor of health an wellbeing and is closely realated to other morbidities such as dementia and diabetes
What is the function of an artery?
To carry oxygenated blood to the body tissues and organs, excluding pulmonary ciculation and umbilical vessels in a fetus
What is the function of a vein?
Carry deoxygenated blood back towards the heart.
What is the function of a capillary?
Exchange nutrients and waste
What are the three main types of arteries in order of size with largest first?
Elastic arteries
Muscular arteries
Arterioles
What are the three sizes of vein?
Large veins
Small veins
Venules
Name some organs that are part of the lymphatic system
spleen, thymus, tonsils, lymph nodes, bone marrow.
Name the three wall layers in the arteries/veins?
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica externa
Which layer of the artery is the closest to the blood?
Tunica intima
Which layer of a blood vessel is made primarily of smooth muscle?
Tunica media
Which layer of a blood vessel contains nerve and lymph fibres?
Tunica externa
A large amount of collgaen fibres are found in which layer of a blood vessel?
Tunica externa
Which layer of a blood vessel is also known as the tunica adventia?
Tunica externa
Which type of vessel are typical blood pressure readings taken from?
Arteries
Why do large arteries have many elastic fibres?
To be able to stretch and withstand pressure of the blood rushing out the heart.
What is an example of a large elastic artery?
Aorta
How much resistance would you expect in a healthy large elastic artery and why?
Low resistance, because they have a large elastic lumen in order to allow a large volume of blood to pass through to the body
What type of vessel is referred to as a pressure resevoir?
Large elastic arteries
What type of artery is distal to the large elastic arteries?
The muscular arteries
What is the average cardiac output in litreage?
5 litres
Which type of artery delivers blood to the organs?
Muscular arteries
Why do muscular arteries have a thick tunica media?
In order to contract and relax to pump blood to areas of the body
Which are the smallest arteries?
Arterioles
Which vessels control blood flow to the capillary beds?
Arterioles
Name the three types of arteries in order of size, smallest to largest
Arterioles
Muscular arteries
Large elastic arteries
When venules converge into a larger vessel, what is the name of the vessel they form?
Vein
Do veins have thinner or thicker walls compared to their corresponding arteries?
Thinner, to allow more blood through
What is the smallest type of vein?
Venule
Is blood pressure lower in veins or arteries?
Veins
Which blood vessels are called capacitance vessels and why?
Veins, because they hold the majority of blood volume in the body.
What percentage of blood is held in the venous system at any given time?
65%
What venous vessels for when capillary beds unite?
Venules
Why are venules very porous?
To allow fluids and white blood cells into the tissues
Why do veins have specific features not found in arteries?
In order to return blood to the heart despite the resistance
Why do veins have valves?
To prevent backflow
What is the muscular pump with reference to veins?
Contraction of skeletal muscles “milks” the blood towards the heart
What is the respiratory pump, with reference to the veins?
Changes in pressure during breathing move blood towards the heart by squeezing abdominal veins
The sympathetic nervous system controls vasodialation. True or False?
False. The sympathetic nervous system controls the vasocontriction.
