Lecture 12: Vessels, Blood Pressure, Exercise & Heart

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions from Lecture 12 on vessels, blood pressure, exercise, and heart physiology.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, usually oxygenated except for pulmonary circulation and umbilical vessels.

Capillaries

Microscopic blood vessels where gas, nutrients, and waste exchange occurs between blood and interstitial fluid.

Veins

Blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood towards the heart, except for pulmonary circulation and umbilical vessels.

Tunica intima

The innermost layer of a blood vessel wall, in direct contact with blood.

Vasodilation

The increase in blood vessel diameter due to the relaxation of smooth muscle.

Compliance

The ability of a blood vessel to stretch in response to pressure changes.

Capacitance vessels

Large veins that can hold a significant volume of blood, acting as blood reservoirs.

Varicose veins

Dilated veins caused by incompetent valves, often resulting in pain and swelling.

Systolic pressure

The pressure exerted in the aorta during ventricular contraction.

Diastolic pressure

The lowest pressure in the aorta when the heart is at rest.

Pulse pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

The pressure that propels blood to tissues, calculated as diastolic pressure plus one third of the pulse pressure.

Hypotension

Inadequate blood flow to tissues, often leading to dizziness or fainting.

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure that can lead to serious health issues.

Cardiac output (CO)

The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, calculated as stroke volume multiplied by heart rate.

Peripheral resistance

The resistance to blood flow in the circulatory system, influenced by the diameter of blood vessels.