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Blood Vessels and Circulatory System - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (29)

  • Types of blood vessels

    Include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. They differ in structure and function related to blood flow and pressure.

  • Layers of blood vessel walls

    Tunica intima (inner layer), tunica media (middle muscular layer), and tunica adventitia (externa, outer connective tissue layer).

  • Function of the lumen in blood vessels

    The lumen is the hollow interior through which blood flows.

  • Role of the vasa vasorum

    Small vessels that supply blood to the walls of large arteries and veins, nourishing their outer layers.

  • Progression of blood flow through vessels

    Blood flows from large elastic arteries to muscular arteries, then arterioles, capillaries, venules, and finally large veins.

  • Function of large elastic arteries

    They act as pressure reservoirs, maintaining blood pressure by stretching and recoiling during the cardiac cycle.

  • Role of arterioles in blood flow

    Arterioles regulate resistance to blood flow and control blood pressure by vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

  • Why veins are called capacitance vessels

    Veins have a large capacity to hold blood due to their thin walls and large lumen, acting as blood reservoirs.

  • Factors affecting blood flow

    Blood flow is influenced by pressure gradients, vessel radius, blood viscosity, and vessel length.

  • Effect of blood vessel radius on flow

    Blood flow is proportional to the fourth power of the radius; small changes in radius cause large changes in flow.

  • Types of capillaries

    Continuous, fenestrated, and sinusoidal capillaries differ in permeability and function as exchange vessels.

  • Mechanisms of blood flow through capillary beds

    Flow is influenced by hydrostatic pressure, colloid osmotic pressure, bulk flow, and diffusion.

  • Short-term blood pressure control mechanisms

    Include neural and hormonal controls that adjust cardiac output and vessel diameter rapidly.

  • Long-term blood pressure control mechanisms

    Primarily involve regulation of blood volume by the kidneys.

  • Relationship between blood pressure, cardiac output, and resistance

    Blood pressure (BP) = Cardiac output (CO) × Total peripheral resistance (TPR). \(BP=CO\times TPR\)

  • How vasoconstriction and vasodilation affect resistance

    Vasoconstriction increases resistance; vasodilation decreases resistance, controlling blood flow and pressure.

  • Local regulation of blood flow

    Includes active hyperemia (increased flow with activity) and autoregulation (maintaining flow despite pressure changes).

  • Formula relating blood flow, pressure gradient, and resistance

    Flow (F) = Change in pressure (ΔP) / Total peripheral resistance (TPR). \(F=\frac{\Delta P}{TPR}\)

  • Why blood pressure decreases through the circulatory system

    Due to increasing total cross-sectional area and resistance as blood moves from arteries to capillaries and veins.

  • Systolic and diastolic pressure

    Systolic pressure is the peak arterial pressure during heart contraction; diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure during relaxation.

  • Sounds of Korotkoff

    Sounds heard when measuring blood pressure caused by turbulent blood flow as the cuff pressure is released.

  • Calculating pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure

    Pulse pressure (PP) = Systolic - Diastolic; Mean arterial pressure (MAP) = Diastolic + 1/3 Pulse pressure. \(PP=SP-DP\), \(MAP=DP+\frac{1}{3}PP\)

  • How arterioles control blood pressure and flow

    By adjusting their diameter through autoregulation, they regulate resistance and direct blood to tissues as needed.

  • Extrinsic controls over blood pressure

    Include autonomic nervous system and hormones that affect cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, and arteriole radius.

  • Role of baroreceptors in blood pressure control

    Baroreceptors detect pressure changes and trigger reflexes to maintain stable blood pressure.

  • Mechanisms for returning blood to the right ventricle

    Include the skeletal muscle pump and respiratory pump that assist venous return.

  • Effect of blood volume on blood pressure

    Increased blood volume raises blood pressure; decreased volume lowers it.

  • Differences between systemic arteries and veins

    Arteries have thicker walls and higher pressure; veins have valves and larger lumens to accommodate blood volume.

  • Function of the hepatic portal system

    Transports nutrient-rich blood from the digestive organs to the liver for processing before returning to the heart.