Blood Vessels and Circulation

Flashcards for reviewing terminology and key concepts related to blood vessels and circulation.

Blood Vessels

Tubular structures carrying blood throughout the body.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules.

Tunica interna

The smooth inner layer of blood vessels.

Tunica media

The middle layer of blood vessels, consisting of smooth muscle and elastic tissue.

Tunica externa

The outermost layer of blood vessels made of connective tissue.

Lumen

The inner open space of a blood vessel.

Vasa vasorum

Small blood vessels that supply the outer layers of larger blood vessels.

Precapillary sphincters

Muscle cells that regulate blood flow into capillary beds.

Conducting arteries

Large arteries that include elastic fibers to accommodate high blood pressure.

Distributing arteries

Muscular arteries that direct blood to specific organs.

Resistance arteries

Small arteries that control blood flow to various organs.

Vasomotion

The ability of blood vessels to constrict or dilate to regulate blood flow.

Baroreceptors

Sensors that detect blood pressure changes.

Chemoreceptors

Sensors that monitor blood chemistry, such as CO2 and O2 levels.

Hypertension

Chronic high blood pressure, defined as BP > 140/90 mmHg.

Hypotension

Chronic low blood pressure, which may be caused by various health issues.

Perfusion

The rate of blood flow per given mass of tissue.

Hemodynamics

The study of blood flow and its physical principles.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

The average blood pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle.

Hydrostatic pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of gravity.

Colloid osmotic pressure (COP)

The pressure exerted by proteins in blood plasma that draws fluid into the circulatory system.

Capillary filtration

The process of fluid being pushed out of capillaries into surrounding tissues due to hydrostatic pressure.

Transcytosis

A mechanism that transports vesicles across the cell for substances like proteins.

Reactive hyperemia

An increase in blood flow that occurs following a period of decreased blood flow.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones.

Capillary exchange

The process by which substances are transferred between the blood and surrounding tissues.

Sinusoids

Highly permeable capillaries found in organs like the liver and spleen.

Fenestrated capillaries

Capillaries with pores that allow more permeability for substances like hormones and nutrients.

Continuous capillaries

Capillaries with tight junctions that restrict the passage of most cells and large molecules.

Aortic arch

The section of the aorta that arches over the heart, giving rise to major arteries.

Celiac trunk

A major artery that supplies blood to the stomach, liver, and spleen.

Common iliac artery

An artery that divides into the internal and external iliac arteries.

Superficial veins

Veins that are closer to the skin's surface.

Deep veins

Veins located deeper within the body, often alongside arteries.

Jugular veins

Veins responsible for draining blood from the head and neck.

Pulsatile flow

The flow of blood that varies with the heartbeat.

Laminar flow

A smooth flow characteristic of blood through most vessels.

Stroke volume

The amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat.

Cardiac output

The total volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.

Venous return

The flow of blood back to the heart from the body.

Blood viscosity

The thickness of blood, affecting its flow through vessels.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels to increase blood flow.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels to decrease blood flow.

Anastomosis

The connection between two blood vessels.

Coronary circulation

The flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart.

Pulmonary circulation

The passage of blood from the heart to the lungs and back.

Systemic circulation

The circulation of blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back.

Capillary bed

A network of capillaries supplying blood to a specific area.

Skeletal muscle pump

The mechanism by which skeletal muscle contractions help return blood to the heart.

Thoracic pump

The mechanism by which breathing promotes venous return.

Vein valves

Structures within veins that prevent backflow of blood.

Circulatory shock

A state in which insufficient blood flow to tissues causes organ failure.

Hypovolemic shock

A form of circulatory shock caused by low blood volume.

Neurogenic shock

A state of shock due to loss of vascular tone.

Septic shock

A serious condition resulting from systemic infection leading to low blood pressure.

Edema

Excess fluid accumulation in tissue spaces.

Ultrafiltration

The process by which fluid is forced through capillary membranes based on pressure gradients.

Oncotic pressure

The pressure exerted by proteins in blood plasma that draws water into the circulatory system.

Metarterioles

Small blood vessels that connect arterioles to capillaries.

Thoroughfare channel

The continuation of a metarteriole through a capillary bed to a venule.

Oxygen delivery

The process of transporting oxygen from the bloodstream to tissues.

Nutrient exchange

The transfer of essential nutrients from blood to surrounding tissues.

Blood chemistry

The analysis of the components and characteristics of blood.

Capillary permeability

The property of capillary walls to allow substances to pass through.

Cerebral blood flow

The blood supply to the brain.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

Commonly known as a stroke; occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted.

Coronary arteries

Arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

Brachiocephalic trunk

An artery that branches into the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries.

Descending aorta

The portion of the aorta that runs down through the thorax and abdomen.

Blood supply and distribution

The way blood is directed and delivered to various tissues.

Homeostatic mechanisms

Regulatory processes maintaining stable internal conditions.

Fluid balance

The maintenance of the proper amount of fluid in the body's compartments.

Atrial natriuretic peptide

A hormone produced by the heart that reduces blood pressure.

Renin-angiotensin pathway

A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system that often increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Vasomotor center

A part of the nervous system that regulates blood vessel diameter.

Collaterals

Alternative pathways that blood vessels can use to transport blood.

Exercise and blood flow

Increased blood flow to active muscles during physical activity.

Pressure gradient

The difference in blood pressure between two points in the circulatory system.

Tissue perfusion

The flow of blood per unit tissue mass over time.

Systolic pressure

The pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats.

Diastolic pressure

The pressure in your blood vessels when your heart is at rest between beats.

Cardiac ischemia

Reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Infarction

Tissue death due to inadequate blood supply.

Neurovascular coupling

The relationship between neural activity and blood flow.

Blood clotting

The process where blood changes from a liquid to a solid to prevent hemorrhage.

Factor V Leiden

A genetic mutation that increases the risk of blood clots.

Anticoagulants

Medications that help prevent blood clots.

Dialysis

A medical procedure to remove waste products from the blood when kidneys fail.

Portal vein

Vein responsible for carrying blood from gastrointestinal organs to the liver.

Vascular resistance

The opposition to blood flow within the blood vessels.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Albumin

A protein in blood plasma that helps maintain oncotic pressure.