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Types of blood vessels

• Arteries divide
– Elastic (conducting) arteries
– Muscular arteries
• Arterioles branch into
• Capillaries reunite to form
• Venules merge into
• Veins converge and convey blood back to
the heart

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Arteries
• Elastic arteries or
conducting arteries
– Pressure reservoirs
– Recoil of elastic fibers
propels the blood.
• Muscular or distributing
arteries
– Constrict or dilate to adjust
blood flow.

Arterioles
• Small arteries (10-300mm) that deliver
blood to capillaries.
• Regulates blood flow

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Continuous Capillaries

Fenestrated capillaries

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Capillary beds: Microcirculation

•Vascular shunt

Capillary exchange
• Vasomotion is slow and intermittent

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Venules and veins

• Capillaries unite
and form venules
• Venules converge
and form veins
• Veins
– No elastic layers
– Large lumen
– Valves
• Sinuses

Venous return
• Overcoming
resistance and the
force of gravity.

• Skeletal muscle pump

• Respiratory pump

• Sympathetic control

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Arteries
• Strong thick elastic
walls
• Narrow lumens
• Closer to pumping
action of heart
Veins
• Thinner walls, larger
lumens
• Valves
• Enhanced by
skeletal activity

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Arteries and Veins

• Anastomoses is the
union of two or more
branches of arteries.

• Varicose veins are

caused by leaky
venous valves that
cause veins to
become dilated and
twisted.

Physiology of blood
• Blood flow (ml/min)

• Blood pressure (mm Hg)

– force generated against arterial walls per unit of
area in mm Hg.

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Terms, Definitions & Units

• Systolic Pressure - peak arterial
pressure. Averages about 120
mmHg
• Diastolic Pressure - lowest
arterial pressure. Averages
between 70 - 80 mm Hg
• Blood Volume - quantity of blood
in cardiovascular system. Varies
from 4-5 L. in females to 5-6 L. in
males.
• Mean arterial pressure- propels
the blood to the tissues
• MAP=diastolic BP+1/3(systolic BP-diastolic BP)

Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is
affected by several
factors:
– peripheral resistance
– vessel elasticity
– blood volume
– cardiac output

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Peripheral Resistance
Blood cells and plasma
encounter resistance when
they contact blood vessel
walls.
• If resistance , then more
pressure is needed to keep
blood moving. Three main
sources of peripheral
resistance:
– blood vessel diameter
– blood viscosity F = P/R
– total vessel length

Other Factors Affecting

Blood Pressure

• Vessel Elasticity
• Blood Volume
• Cardiac Output

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Velocity of blood flow

• Velocity is inversely
related to the cross-
sectional area.
– The greater the cross
section, the slower the
blood.
• Branching of blood
vessels slows velocity.
• Veins coming together
increases velocity

Blood flow through tissues

• Delivers O2 and
nutrients and
removes waste
• Gas exchange
• Absorption of
nutrients from
digestive tract
• Urine formation in
the kidney

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Monitoring
Efficiency
• Pulse
– Pressure points

• Blood Pressure

– Blood Pressure Animation

Monitoring blood pressure

• Asculatory method uses the sphygmomanometer
– Sounds of Korotkoff
• Brachial artery is compressed and cuff pressure released
– First sound is systolic blood pressure
– Last sound is the diastolic blood pressure
• BP has a circadian rhythm—peaks in the morning

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Measuring Arterial Blood Pressure

Figure 11.18

Factors Determining Blood

Pressure

Figure 11.19

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Hypertension

• High blood pressure.

• Sustained arterial blood pressure of 140/90
mm Hg or above.
• Rising diastolic pressure generally indicative
of progressive hardening of arteries.
• Since the heart must work harder to pump
blood against higher pressures, there is
increased risk of a cardiovascular accident.

Primary hypertension
• Diet—high intake of
Na+, saturated fats or
deficiencies in K+, Ca2+,
or Mg2+
• Obesity
• Age—over 40
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heredity
• Stress
• Smoking

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Hypotension

• Abnormally low blood pressure.

• Sustained systolic blood pressure of below
100 mm Hg.
• Generally associated with lower risk of
cardiovascular accidents & long life providing
that the tissues are adequately perfused..

Autoregulation of blood pressure

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Shock and homeostasis

• Shock is the failure to deliver enough

O2 to meet cellular metabolic needs.
• Four types of shock
1. Hypovolemic shock—drop in fluid levels
2. Cardiogenic shock—failure of heart to
pump
3. Vascular shock—decrease in vascular
resistance
4. Obstructive shock—blood flow through a
portion of the circulation is blocked.

Signs and symptoms of shock

• Systolic blood pressure below 90mmHg
• Weak and rapid pulse
• Rapid heart rate
• Cool and damp skin
• Altered mental state
• Reduced urine formation
• Thirst
• Acidosis (low blood pH)
• Nausea

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Circulatory Shock
• Blood vessels inadequately filled to enable
normal circulation & supply of O2 & nutrients.
• May result in death of cells & damage to
organs.

• Common Types:
• Hypovolemic - severe blood loss
• Cardiogenic - heart (pump) failure
• Vascular - excessive vasodilation
• Septicemic - vasodilation due to bacterial
toxins produced during an infection.

Arterial Anatomy

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Right Common Carotid

Right subclavian

Brachiocephalic

Arterial Supply of the Brain

Figure 11.13

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Venous Anatomy Pay attention to position,

function and structure or
the following:
•Great saphenous vein
•Pulmonary vein
•Splenic vein.
•Superior & Inferior
mesenteric vein.
•Hepatic portal vein.
•Gastroepiploic vein.
•Superior vena cava
•Pulmonary trunk
•External jugular vein

Developmental Aspects of the

Cardiovascular System
• A simple “tube heart” develops in the
embryo and pumps by the fourth week
• The heart becomes a four-chambered organ
by the end of seven weeks
• Few structural changes occur after the
seventh week

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Circulation to the Fetus

Figure 11.15

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