Blood Vessels
Which layer of blood vessels controls their diameter?
The tunica media is responsible for regulating the diameter of blood vessels by adjusting smooth muscle tone.
A patient presents with chest pain radiating down the left arm. Which artery is most likely affected in this case?
The left coronary artery. The left coronary artery supplies blood to the heart muscle and is commonly associated with chest pain (angina) or heart attacks (myocardial infarctions).
What are the two largest veins in the body, and where do they drain?
Superior and Inferior Vena Cava They both directly drain into the right atrium.
What circulation supply the muscle with oxygen and nutrients and ensures the muscle receives the necessary supply for continuous contraction and circulation?
Coronary Circulation
What are varicose veins?
A condition in which the veins enlarge due to malfunction of their valves causing improper flow of blood, and pooling as a result. Varicose veins usually involve the superficial veins in the legs.
How do veins differ from arteries?
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back toward the heart. Unlike arteries, veins have thinner walls and rely on valves to prevent blood from flowing backward.
During a cardiac catheterization procedure, the physician identifies a blockage in the artery that supplies blood to the brain. Which artery is involved?
The internal carotid artery. The internal carotid artery is responsible for supplying blood to the brain and head.
During a routine physical examination, you palpate a vein in the antecubital fossa that is commonly used for venipuncture. What is the name of this vein?
Median Cubital Vein
What circulation pertains to blood flow within the kidneys and deliver oxygenated blood to the kidneys, where filtration occurs?
Renal Circulation
What is the subclavian steal syndrome?
A condition where an artery takes or “steals” blood that’s supposed to go to your brain. Instead, that blood goes to your arm. This happens because of a narrowing or blockage in your subclavian artery (usually the left one) that normally sends blood to your arm on that side.
A patient presents with swelling and pain in the lower extremities. Which blood vessels are primarily responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart?
Veins
Which artery supplies oxygenated blood to the lower parts of the body, including the legs and pelvic organs?
Iliac Artery
A patient presents with swelling and pain in the left arm. Upon examination, you notice a prominent vein running along the medial aspect of the arm. Which vein is likely affected?
Cephalic Vein
What circulation involves blood flow to the brain and includes the internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries, which supply oxygen and nutrients to brain cells?
Cerebral Circulation
What is the beauty parlor syndrome?
A rare but recognized condition that can occur when getting your hair washed at a salon. The process of tilting the neck backward over a basin during a hair wash can, on extremely rare occasions, lead to tearing of the vertebral artery. This tear can result in blood clots and strokes.
A nurse is caring for a patient with atherosclerosis. Which type of blood vessel is most commonly affected by this condition?
Arteries
A nurse is assessing a patient’s peripheral pulses. Which artery can be palpated in the neck to assess blood flow to the brain?
Carotid Artery
A patient with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) complains of leg pain and swelling. Which vein is most commonly affected in DVT cases?
Femoral Veins
What is the unique arrangement of veins that deliver 80% of the blood flow to the liver and delivers blood from all digestive organs to the liver?
Hepatic Portal System (Part of Hepatic Circulation)
What is a venous hum and where can it be heard?
A benign auscultatory phenomenon caused by the normal flow of blood through the jugular veins. The sound is heard in the upper chest near the clavicle.
A nursing student is learning about capillary exchange. Which statement by the student indicates understanding?
a) “Capillaries have thick walls.”
b) “Capillaries allow for nutrient exchange.”
c) “Capillaries carry oxygenated blood.”
d) “Capillaries are larger than veins.”
The correct response is letter B. Capillaries are the site of nutrient and gas exchange between blood and tissues.
A nurse is performing an abdominal exam and notices a strong pulse in the abdomen just above the umbilicus. She is most likely palpating what blood vessel?
Abdominal Aorta
A client with heart failure experiences shortness of breath and fatigue. Which vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart?
Pulmonary Veins
What is the name of the opening in the atrial septum where blood can flow into the left side of the heart in a newborn infant?
The foramen ovale allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs and flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium in newborns.
What is vasculitis?
A group of conditions characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels. This causes headache, fatigue and fever.