Blood Vessels and Circulation Review

A series of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to blood vessels and circulation, suitable for exam preparation.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body.

Arterioles

Small blood vessels that branch off from arteries and lead to capillaries.

Capillaries

Microscopic blood vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs.

Venules

Small blood vessels that collect blood from capillaries and combine to form veins.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart.

Systemic Circulation

The part of the cardiovascular system that delivers oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and removes waste.

Pulmonary Circulation

The part of the cardiovascular system that transports blood between the heart and lungs for gas exchange.

Tunic Intima

The innermost layer of blood vessel walls, consisting of a sheet of endothelium.

Tunic Media

The middle layer of blood vessel walls, composed of smooth muscle and elastic fibers.

Tunic Externa

The outermost layer of blood vessel walls, made of collagen fibers.

Simple Squamous ET

A tissue type made of a single layer of flattened cells; adapts for filtration and diffusion.

Dense Fibrous CT

Tissue with high fiber content, primarily made of collagen fibers; provides structural support.

Elastic CT

Connective tissue containing elastic fibers, allowing for tissue stretch and recoil.

Areolar Tissue

Loose connective tissue serving as a binding and support material filled with ground substance.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle type found in walls of hollow organs; responsible for coordinated contractions.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure.

Precapillary Sphincters

Muscle rings that regulate blood flow into capillary beds based on metabolic needs.

Metarteriole

A vessel that connects arterioles to capillaries and helps regulate blood flow.

Continuous Capillaries

Least permeable capillaries with tight junctions and intercellular clefts.

Fenestrated Capillaries

Type of capillaries with large openings to increase permeability.

Sinusoid Capillaries

Most permeable capillaries with large intercellular clefts and an incomplete basement membrane.

Postcapillary Venules

Small veins that directly drain capillary beds.

Capacitance Vessels

Veins that can stretch and hold variable amounts of blood, acting as reservoirs.

Blood Flow

The volume of blood moving through the peripheral tissues and organs.

Blood Pressure

The force exerted by blood against the inner walls of blood vessels.

Peripheral Resistance

The resistance encountered by blood flow, caused by the friction of blood against vessel walls.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Average pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle; important for tissue perfusion.

Baroreceptors

Pressure-sensitive mechanoreceptors that detect changes in arterial pressure.

Ductus Venosus

A shunt that carries oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein past the fetal liver.

Foramen Ovale

A fetal shunt that allows blood to bypass the non-functional fetal lungs.

Ductus Arteriosus

A fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, allowing blood to bypass the lungs.

Umbilical Vein

Carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus.

Umbilical Arteries

Carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta.

Blood Colloid Osmotic Pressure

The osmotic pressure exerted by proteins in plasma that draws water into capillaries.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure that water molecules exert on the walls of capillaries, promoting filtration.