Week 6 - Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Assessment Flashcards
Peripheral Vascular System
Made up of a series of vessels that carry fluids throughout our body:
- Arteries
- Veins
- Lymphatic
Function of Arteries (5)
- Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
- High-pressure system
- Have fewer
- Vessel walls thicker and more tough- elastic and muscle fibers to withstand, adapt to and maintain pressure
- Have a ‘pump’ to keep blood moving
Arteries accessible during examination (9)
- temporal
- carotid
- brachial
- radial
- ulnar
- femoral
- popliteal
- dorsalis pedis
- posterior tibial
Function of Veins (5)
- Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
- Low-pressure system
- Have more
- Vessel walls are thinner and larger in diameter
- No pump, rely on 3 mechanisms to keep blood moving:
- contracting skeletal muscles
- pressure gradient
- intraluminal valves (no backflow)
Veins accessible during examination (close to skin’s surface) (9)
- external jugular
- internal jugular
- superficial arm
- deep arm
- femoral
- popliteal
- great saphenous
- small saphenous
- perforators
Artery in the neck
Carotid
Arteries in the arm (3)
- Radial
- Brachial
- Ulner
Arteries in the Leg (4)
- Femoral
- Popliteal
- Posterior tibial
- Dorsalis pedis
Vein in the Neck
Jugular
Veins in the leg (3)
- Great saphenous
- Small saphenous
- Great saphenous
Function of the Lymphatic System
Retrieving excess fluid from tissue spaces and returning to blood stream (like a sponge), in the capillary bed
- Return fluid back to venous system
- Forms major part of immune system
- Absorbs lipids from IT and transport fat soluble nutrients bac into venous circulation
Right lymphatic duct
Empties into right subclavian -
Drains the:
- right side of the head and neck
- right arm
- right side of thorax
- right lung/ pleural
- right side of heart
- right upper section of liver
Thoracic duct
- Drains rest of body
- Empties into left subclavian vein
Movement of lymph
Lymph flow is propelled by:
- Contracting skeletal muscles
- Pressure changes during breathing
- Contraction of the vessels themselves
Lymph Nodes
- Small oval clumps of lymphatic tissue located along intervals in the vessels
- Filter fluid before it is returned to the bloodstream (immune defense)
- Palpable
Location of nodes (4)
- Cervical nodes (neck)* palpable (should be movable and non-tender)
- Axillary nodes (armpits)
- Epitrochlear node (arm)
- Inguinal nodes (groin)
Developmental Considerations for Children and Infants
- Larger lymph nodes
- Palpable even when healthy
Considerations for Pregnancy
Hormonal changes (increased progesterone) cause vasodilation, resulting in drop in BP (2nd and 3rd trimester)
The growing uterus blocks drainage of certain veins, resulting in pooling of venous blood, causing:
Edema in the lower extremities, varicose veins, hemorrhoids
Considerations for Aging Adults
- Arteriosclerosis: Blood vessels become more rigid, thick, less elastic, resulting in increase in BP
- Enlargement of the calf veins, greater risk of venous pooling
- Loss of lymphatic tissue (fewer nodes and atrophy of nodes)
Subjective Assessment of PV (6)
PQRSTUAAA:
- Leg pain or cramps
- Skin changes on arms or legs
- Swelling in the arms or legs
- Lymph node enlargement
- Medications
- History of vascular problems?
Objective Assessment of PV - Arms (5)
- Colour, temperature, texture, turgor, lesions, scars, edema, clubbing
- Capillary refill
- Symmetry
- Pulses (on 4-point scale):
- Radial
- Ulnar
- Brachial - Epitrochlear lymph node (normally not palpable):
- Shake hands, with other hand reach under elbow into groove, feel for node-like structure