Lecture Notes: Blood Vessels and Lymphatic System

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering blood flow dynamics, blood pressure classification, major arterial and venous pathways, the Circle of Willis, hepatic portal circulation, and the basic functions of the lymphatic system.

Blood flow

The volume of blood flowing through a tissue at a given length of time.

Blood velocity

The speed of blood flow, which is fastest in narrow vessels and slowest in wide areas; the slowest velocity occurs in capillaries due to the addition of all their diameters.

Blood pressure

The amount of pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessel.

Systolic vs. Diastolic

Systolic refers to the pressure during heart contraction, while diastolic refers to the pressure during heart relaxation.

Normal blood pressure

A reading of less than $120/80$ ($120$ systolic over $80$ diastolic).

Pre hypertension

A blood pressure range of $120-139$ systolic over $80-89$ diastolic.

Stage one hypertension

A blood pressure range of $140-159$ systolic over $90-99$ diastolic.

Stage two hypertension

A blood pressure reading of $160$ or greater systolic over $100$ or greater diastolic.

Resistance

The opposition to blood flow, caused by blood viscosity, total length of blood vessels, and average blood vessel radius or diameter.

Arterioles

Microscopic arteries that contain all three tunics and are the site of most peripheral resistance due to their ability to vasoconstrict and vasodilate.

Sound of carotid cough

The very first sound heard when deflating a blood pressure cuff, representing the systolic reading.

Pulse pressure

The force the heart generates each time it contracts, calculated as systolic pressure minus diastolic pressure; normal range is between $40$ to $60\,mm\,Hg$.

Arteriosclerosis

The hardening of the arteries that makes them stiff and less flexible, often leading to a higher pulse pressure.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

An indication of global perfusion calculated as $\frac{1}{3}$ of the pulse pressure plus the diastolic blood pressure; normal values are between $60$ to $100\,mm\,Hg$.

Global perfusion

The process of ensuring all cells and organs, such as the brain, are receiving enough oxygen from the blood.

Aortic pulse point

Located to the left of the umbilicus (belly button), where one must push in deeply to assess the pulse of the aorta.

Celiac trunk

A major branch off the abdominal aorta that consists of three vessels: the hepatic artery, left gastric artery, and splenic artery.

Suprarenal arteries

Vessels that supply blood to the adrenal glands sitting on top of the kidneys.

Gonadal arteries

Thin, long vessels that supply the testes in men or the ovaries in women.

Inferior mesenteric artery

The vessel that supplies the large intestine, rectum, sacrum, and coccyx.

External iliac artery

A branch of the common iliac artery that eventually becomes the femoral artery.

Internal auditory meatus

The opening in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid arteries enter the cranial cavity to feed the brain.

Basilar artery

Formed by the union of the two vertebral arteries inside the skull, it supplies the brain stem and the cerebellum.

Circle of Willis

A circular arrangement of blood vessels that equalizes pressure in the brain and provides collateral (alternate) pathways for blood flow.

Aneurysm

An abnormal ballooning or thinning of a blood vessel wall, often occurring in the middle cerebral artery, which can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.

Azygos vein

A vein that connects directly to the superior vena cava and drains blood from the lower intercostal spaces and lower torso.

Great saphenous vein

The longest vein in the body, located superficially in the leg; it is commonly used for coronary bypass surgeries.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A blood clot concern specifically associated with the deep veins of the lower extremities.

Hepatic portal circulation

A shortcut system that takes nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor blood from the digestive tract directly to the liver sinusoids before returning to the heart.

Hepatic portal vein

A vessel formed by the union of the superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric, and splenic veins.

Lacteals

Specialized lymphatic vessels in the small intestine villi that absorb and transport dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins ($K, D, A, E$).

Chyle

The form in which dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins are transported within the lymphatic system.