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Ch. 23 Circulation
Taylor - Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections 10th Edition
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTaylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 23 CirculationProblem 10
Chapter 23, Problem 10

If blood were supplied to all of the body's capillaries at one time,
a. Blood pressure would fall dramatically.
b. Resistance to blood flow would increase.
c. Blood would move too rapidly through the capillaries.
d. The amount of blood returning to the heart would increase.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of capillaries in the circulatory system: Capillaries are small blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products occurs between blood and tissues. Normally, blood flow is regulated to ensure efficient exchange and maintain blood pressure.
Consider the physiological impact of supplying blood to all capillaries simultaneously: If all capillaries were filled with blood at the same time, the total volume of blood distributed across the body would increase significantly, potentially affecting blood pressure and flow resistance.
Analyze the relationship between blood pressure and vascular resistance: Blood pressure is influenced by the resistance to blood flow in the vessels. If all capillaries are open, the resistance to blood flow decreases due to the increased cross-sectional area, which could lead to a drop in blood pressure.
Evaluate the effect on blood return to the heart: With blood distributed across all capillaries, less blood may be available to return to the heart, potentially reducing venous return and impacting cardiac output.
Determine the correct answer by considering the physiological consequences: Based on the analysis, identify which option (a, b, c, or d) aligns with the expected outcome of blood being supplied to all capillaries simultaneously.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Capillary Function

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues. They have a large total cross-sectional area, which slows down blood flow, allowing for efficient exchange. Understanding capillary function is crucial to grasp how blood flow dynamics change when all capillaries are simultaneously supplied with blood.
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Blood Pressure and Resistance

Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, while resistance refers to the opposition to blood flow within the vessels. According to Poiseuille's law, resistance increases with the length of the vessel and decreases with the radius. If blood were supplied to all capillaries at once, the overall resistance would increase, leading to a drop in blood pressure.
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Cardiac Output and Venous Return

Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, while venous return is the amount of blood returning to the heart. If blood were to fill all capillaries simultaneously, it could disrupt normal venous return, potentially leading to decreased cardiac output. This relationship is vital for understanding how changes in blood distribution affect heart function and overall circulation.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Blood flows more slowly in the arterioles than in the artery that supplies them because the arterioles

a. Have thoroughfare channels to venules that are often closed off, slowing the flow of blood.

b. Have sphincters that restrict flow to capillary beds.

c. Are narrower than the artery.

d. Collectively have a larger cross-sectional area than does the artery.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is not a true statement about open and closed circulatory systems?

a. Both systems have some sort of a heart that pumps a circulatory fluid through the body.

b. A frog has an open circulatory system; other vertebrates have closed circulatory systems.

c. The blood and interstitial fluid are separate in a closed system but are indistinguishable in an open system.

d. Some of the circulation of blood in both systems results from body movements.

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Textbook Question
Trace the path of blood starting in a pulmonary vein, through the heart, and around the body, returning to the pulmonary vein. Name, in order, the heart chambers and types of vessels through which the blood passes.
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Textbook Question
If a blood clot forms inside a vein in the leg, it may travel through the circulatory system. What is the first capillary bed the clot would reach, where it might block blood flow?
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Textbook Question
Explain how the structure of capillaries relates to their function of exchanging substances with the surrounding interstitial fluid. Describe how that exchange occurs.
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Textbook Question
Here is a blood sample that has been spun in a centrifuge. List, as completely as you can, the components you would find in the straw-colored fluid at the top of this tube and in the dense red portion at the bottom.

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