Anatomy
What are the three layers of vessel walls from deep to superficial?
Tunica Interna
Tunica Media
Tunica Externa
Explain how the skeletal pump assists in right atrial filling
As muscles contract, it squeezes veins to push the blood up back to the RA
A patient comes into your office and explains that every time they stand up quickly they get dizzy, light headed and sometimes faint.
What is the name of the condition they are experiencing and what causes it?
Orthostatic Hypotension. It is thought to be caused by the body not regulating the blood pressure fast enough
What are the branches coming off the aorta
Left subclavian- supplies left upper limb and some thoracic regions
Left common carotid- supplies left head and neck
Brachiocephalic trunk- right head/neck and right upper limb and right side of thoracic structures
What are the ways in which the body can adjust blood pressure?
Neural and Hormonal mechanisms
Capillaries
Venous return- the amount of blood returning to the heart will affect how much is subsequently pumped out
Afterload- The pressure the ventricle has to overcome will determine how much blood leaves
Ionotropic agents- these things will alter the contractility of the heart (the ability of the heart to produce force for contraction)
A sudden and complete occlusion of blood to the heart that deprives the myocardium from oxygen is called what?
A myocardial infarction
Explain what happens to blood flow during exercise
Blood is shunted to the muscles as their metabolic needs increase.
Blood to the digestive system to places like the kidney will decrease
Describe the ways in which the nervous system can influence blood pressure.
Cardio acceleratory- when BP decreases, this center is activated to increase cardiac output (increase Q will increase BP)
Cardio inhibitory- when BP increases this center activates to decreases Q to decrease resistance
Both are stimulated by baroreceptors
List and describe the 3 types of capillaries.
Continuous- a continuous membrane with tight junctions and intercellular clefts. Found in muscle, skin, lungs, and the nervous system.
Fenestrated- capillaries with holes that resemble swiss cheese called fenestrations. They are found in kidneys and intestines
Sinusoid- incomplete lining with large gaps. Basement membrane is incomplete or absent. Found in bone marrow and spleen
How does the cardiovascular system react to exercise?
How is atherosclerosis related to cardiovascular disease, and what can cause it?
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries, leading to narrowing and hardening of the arteries. It can lead to things such as heart attacks and strokes.
If each of these factors is doubled, this
one has the greatest influence on blood
flow:
a. blood viscosity
b. radius of the blood vessel
c. length of the blood vessel
d. pressure gradient
The radius of the blood vessels is the most important factor influencing blood flow
If blood pressure is elevated, the
cardiovascular centers would compensate
in this manner:
The body would start vasodilation to decrease the pressure
What is meant by blood reservoir? What is the distribution of the blood in the body?
70% in systemic circulation
17% in pulmonary circulation
12% in the heart
Reservoir means that blood is being held in the vessels throughout the body. The percentages refer to where the blood is at any given time.
Explain the meaning of the MAP curve. How does this make sense given the structure of vessels in the body? (I will pull up a picture)
The mean arterial pressure decreases as you get to the capillaries. The largest arteries in the body can withstand the pressure exerted by the heart but the smaller vessels like capillaries cannot. They are too thin. Veins also are very delicate and could rupture if exposed to the same pressure as arteries like the carotid.
Define hypertension and characterize it by symptoms and consequences
Chronically elevated BP (140/90). Can damage vessel walls and can potentially cause heart failure.
High BP can cause things like headaches but is also known as the "silent killer" because symptoms sometimes do not show.
This statement compares the blood flow of
the vena cava to the aorta:
a. resistance to blood flow in the
venae cavae is low because of
their large diameter
b. blood flow through them is about
equal because there are two venae
cavae and only one aorta
c. velocity of blood flow is faster in
the aorta
d. all are true
d. All of these statements are true
How do hormones regulate blood pressure in the human body? List the hormones and actions as well.
Hormones such as aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure. Aldosterone, produced by the adrenal glands, increases sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, which in turn increases blood volume and pressure. ADH, released by the pituitary gland, conserves water in the body by reducing urine output, thereby increasing blood volume and pressure.
Given these blood vessels:
1. arteriole
2. capillary
3. elastic artery
4. muscular artery
5. vein
6. venule
Choose the arrangement that lists the blood
vessels in the order a red blood cell passes
through them as it leaves the heart, travels to a
tissue, and returns to the heart
3, 4, 1, 2, 6, 5
How would a decrease in venous return coupled with negative chronotropic agents affect the cardiac output?
Cardiac output is a a function of heart rate and stroke volume. A decrease in venous return will decrease stroke volume. Negative chronotropic agents will slow down heart rate.
Describe congestive heart failure including causes and effects on each side of the heart.
A condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body.
Left sided failure leads to pulmonary edema
Right sided failure leads to systemic edema
Compare/Contrast pulmonary and systemic circulation
Pulmonary- Have less elastic connective tissue, wider lumens, and lower BP
Systemic- more elastic tissue due to the higher blood pressure during a heartbeat
What is the function of the renin-angiotensin system? Explain the process of how it accomplishes its goals.
1) Kidney detects low BP and renin releases
2) Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin 1
3) ACE converts angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2 in the lungs
4) Angiotensin 2 stimulates thirst center and decreases urine output while also causing vasoconstriction to bring BP up.