Human Physiology- Blood Pressure- Goodnotes

What are arteries primarily responsible for?

Arteries measure blood pressure and are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart.

What is the difference in the structure of arteries and veins?

Arteries have much thicker walls and a smooth muscle layer that can contract, while veins have thinner walls and can expand to accommodate varying amounts of blood.

What is the capillary structure like?

Capillaries consist of only one internal layer and are one cell thick, facilitating gas exchange.

Define blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against arterial walls, varying with blood volume.

What happens to blood pressure when there is internal bleeding?

Internal bleeding decreases blood volume, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.

What role do baroreceptors play in regulating blood pressure?

Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure and stimulate the cardiac center in the medulla oblongata.

What effect does epinephrine and norepinephrine have on the heart rate?

Epinephrine and norepinephrine bind to receptors that increase heart rate and peripheral resistance.

How is cardiac output calculated?

Cardiac output (CO) is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume (SV).

What is the relationship between stroke volume and end diastolic volume?

Stroke volume increases when end diastolic volume increases, as the ventricles fill with more blood.

Describe the Frank-Starling law.

The Frank-Starling law states that increasing venous return stretches the ventricular muscles, leading to better alignment of actin and myosin, resulting in a stronger contraction.

What triggers the release of erythropoietin from the kidneys?

Low oxygen saturation in the blood stimulates chemoreceptors in the kidneys to release erythropoietin.

What is the function of aldosterone in blood pressure regulation?

Aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, increasing blood volume and consequently blood pressure.

How do muscles assist in venous return?

Muscles contracting around veins help push blood back to the heart, increasing venous return.

What happens to blood viscosity after internal bleeding?

Increased blood viscosity occurs as the number of red blood cells decreases, leading to potential increases in peripheral resistance and blood pressure.

What adaptations occur in individuals living at high altitudes?

Individuals at high altitudes have increased red blood cell production, resulting in more viscous blood and higher blood pressure.

How does the sympathetic nervous system respond to decreased blood pressure?

The sympathetic nervous system is activated to increase heart rate and peripheral resistance, which helps to raise blood pressure.

What is the consequence of dehydration on blood pressure?

Dehydration reduces blood volume, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure.

What is the role of osmoreceptors in blood volume regulation?

Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus monitor osmotic pressure and stimulate thirst and vasopressin release to regulate blood volume.

What is the effect of vasoconstriction on blood pressure?

Vasoconstriction increases blood pressure due to reduced vessel diameter, which causes increased resistance.

How can end systolic volume be decreased?

End systolic volume can be decreased by increasing the force of heart contractions, often mediated by hormones like epinephrine.