Week 7: Microcirculation Flashcards
What is the purpose of micro circulation?
to ensure eqilibirum with the external and internal environments
it is part of the alimentary system
examples: pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and bodily microcirculation
Macro- micro transition:
How are the arteries and veins connected?
Arterial branches → arterioles → capillaries → venules → venous branches
What is the graph representing optimal parameter profiles
Branching
book
Coupling with the microflow environment
book
What is the microcirculatroy unit?
The unit that connects the arterioles and the venules
What is the input and output of the microcirculatory unit?
input: arteriole
output: venule
What is the “throughfare channel” and what does it allow?
a channel which allows blood to flow freely between an arteriole and venule
can carry nutritive flow → metarteriole, capillary network
can carry nonnutritive flow → shunt
What is the direction of flow in the microcirculatory unit?
arteriole → venule
(within the capillary, the spatio-temporal pattern is more complex)
What offers a means of overall control of flow?
the smooth muscle layer in the wall of the arteriole
What offers the means of local control?
precapillary sphincters
Graph displaying the different vessels v.s. pressure
The pressure is autoregulated (graph)
How is the diameter of the vessels adjusted?
vasomotion
the oscillation of vascular tone (diameter) with frequencies in the range from 1-20 min and is seen in the most vascular beds
Where does the oscillation of vasomotion originate?
vessel wall
(seen in vivo & vitro)
What must be present in order for vasomotion to occur?
cellular oscillator
can be modeled as a strong of events forming a feedback loop
In order to get macroscopic oscillations of blood vessels ____
the oscillations in individual smooth muscle cells must be synchronized
What are the physiological roles of vasomotion?
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improve flow in the periphery of circulation
- flow is better through an oscillating diameter rather than a steady one
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make peripheral flow distribution more efficient
- by ↑ the synchronization
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↑ the reactivity of a blood vessel
- avoiding the “latch state” (state of prolonged force in SM due to low ATP)
- pattern alters in disease
Describe the flow of RBC and plasma.
- flow in two phases in arteries and arterioles
- in the capillaries their flow behavior separates int plug and bolus flows (i.e. single file
- the plasma bolus is being stirred while flowing which provokes gas and meterial exchange betwen capillary lumen and wall