Unit 5

The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Flow
Blood is constantly reconditioned so composition
remains relatively constant
Reconditioning organs receive more blood than
needed for metabolic needs

Digestive organs, kidneys, skin

Adjust extra blood to achieve homeostasis
Blood flow to other organs can be adjusted
according to metabolic needs
Brain can least tolerate disrupted supply
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Distribution of Cardiac
Output at Rest

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Flow
Flow rate through a vessel
volume of blood passing through per unit of time
to the pressure gradient and inversely
proportional to vascular resistance
F = P
R
F = flow rate of blood through a vessel
P = pressure gradient
R = resistance of blood vessels
Blood viscosity, vessel length, vessel radium

Major determinant of resistance to flow is vessels radius

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Flow
Pressure gradient is pressure difference between beginning
and end of a vessel
Blood flows from area of higher pressure to area of lower
pressure
Resistance is measure of opposition of blood flow through a
vessel
Depends on three things
Blood viscosity, vessel length, vessel radium

Major determinant of resistance to flow is vessels radius

Slight change in radius produces significant change in
blood flow

R is proportional to 1
r4
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Relationship of
Resistance and Flow
to Vessel Radius

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Vascular Tree
Closed system of vessels
Consists of
Arteries
Carry blood away from heart to tissues

Arterioles
Smaller branches of arteries

Capillaries
Smaller branches of arterioles
Smallest of vessels across which all exchanges are made
with surrounding cells

Venules
Formed when capillaries rejoin
Return blood to heart

Veins
Formed when venules merge
Return blood to heart
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Basic Organization of
the Cardiovascular
System

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Arteries
Specialized to
Serve as rapid-transit passageways for blood
from heart to organs
Due to large radius, arteries offer little resistance to
blood flow

Act as pressure reservoir to provide driving force

for blood when heart is relaxing
Arterial connective tissue contains
Collagen fibers
Provide tensile strength
Elastin fibers
Provide elasticity to arterial walls

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Arteries as a Pressure Reservoir

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Pressure
Force exerted by blood against a vessel wall
Depends on
Volume of blood contained within vessel
Compliance of vessel walls

Systolic pressure
Peak pressure exerted by ejected blood against
vessel walls during cardiac systole
Averages 120 mm Hg
Diastolic pressure
Minimum pressure in arteries when blood is
draining off into vessels downstream
Averages 80 mm Hg

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Pressure
Can be measured indirectly using
sphygmomanometer
Korotkoff sounds
Sounds heard when determining blood pressure
Sounds are distinct from heart sounds associated
with valve closure

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood
Pressure

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Pulse Pressure
Pressure difference between systolic and diastolic
pressure
Example
If blood pressure is 120/80, pulse pressure is 40

mm Hg (120mm Hg 80mm Hg)

Pulse that can be felt in artery lying close to surface
of skin is due to pulse pressure

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Mean Arterial Pressure

Average pressure driving blood forward into tissues
throughout cardiac cycle
Formula for approximating mean arterial pressure
Mean arterial pressure = diastolic pressure +
pulse pressure
At 120/80, mean arterial pressure = 80 mm Hg +
(40 mm Hg) = 93 mm Hg

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Arterioles
Major resistance vessels
Radius supplying individual organs can be adjusted
independently to
Distribute cardiac output among systemic organs,

depending on bodys momentary needs

Help regulate arterial blood pressure

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Arterioles
Mechanisms involved in adjusting arteriolar
resistance
Vasoconstriction
Refers to narrowing of a vessel

Vasodilation
Refers to enlargement in circumference and radius of
vessel
Results from relaxation of smooth muscle layer
Leads to decreased resistance and increased flow
through that vessel
ONLY blood supply to the brain remains constant
Peripheral supply vary according to metabolic NEEDS
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Magnitude and Distribution

Of the Cardiac Output at Rest
and During Moderate Exercise

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Arteriole

Smooth muscles

Precapillary
sphincter

Metarteriole
Capillary

Venule
Fig. 10-19, p. 357

Tissue metabolic activity

O2, CO2 and other metabolites

Relaxation of
precapillary sphincters

Arteriolar vasodilation

Capillary blood flow

Number of open
capillaries

Capillary surface area

available for exchange

Diffusion distance
from cell to open
capillary

Delivery of O2,
more rapid removal of
CO2 and other
metabolites

Concentration gradient for

these materials between
blood and tissue cells

Exchange between blood and tissue

to support increased metabolic
activity

Fig. 10-20, p. 358

Lymphatic System
Functions
Return of excess filtered fluid
Defense against disease
Lymph nodes have phagocytes which destroy bacteria
filtered from interstitial fluid

Transport of absorbed fat

Return of filtered protein
In the case of protein deficiency
Osmotic pressure is low causing fluid retention
EDEMA

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Lymphatic
System

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Edema
Swelling of tissues
Occurs when too much interstitial fluid accumulates
Causes of edema
Reduced concentration of plasma proteins
Increased permeability of capillary wall
Increased venous pressure
Blockage of lymph vessels

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Veins
Venous system transports blood back to heart
Capillaries drain into venules
Venules converge to form small veins that exit
organs
Smaller veins merge to form larger vessels
Veins
Large radius offers little resistance to blood flow
Also serve as blood reservoir

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Veins
Factors which enhance venous return
Driving pressure from cardiac contraction
Sympathetically induced venous vasoconstriction
Skeletal muscle activity
Effect of venous valves
Respiratory activity
Effect of cardiac suction

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Fig. 10-32b, p. 368

Mean Arterial Pressure

Blood pressure that is monitored and regulated in
the body
Primary determinants
Cardiac output
Total peripheral resistance
Mean arterial pressure = cardiac output x total
peripheral resistance

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Determinants of Mean Arterial Pressure

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Mean Arterial Pressure

Constantly monitored by baroreceptors (pressure
sensors) within circulatory system
Short-term control adjustments
Occur within seconds

Adjustments made by alterations in cardiac output and

total peripheral resistance
Mediated by means of autonomic nervous system

influences on heart, veins, and arterioles

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Mean Arterial Pressure

Long-term control adjustments
Require minutes to days
Involve adjusting total blood volume by restoring
normal salt and water balance through mechanisms

that regulate urine output and thirst

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Blood Pressure Abnormalities

Hypertension
Blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg
Two broad classes
Primary hypertension
Secondary hypertension

Hypotension
Blood pressure below 100/60 mm Hg

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Hypertension
Most common of blood pressure abnormalities
Primary hypertension

Affected by variety of unknown causes rather than by a

single disease entity

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Potential causes
Defects in salt management by the kidneys
Excessive salt intake
Diets low in K+ and Ca2+

Plasma membrane abnormalities

such as defective Na+-K+ pumps

Variation in gene that encodes for angiotensinogen

Abnormalities in vasoactive chemicals

NO, endothelin, or other locally acting

Excess vasopressin

Hypertension
Secondary hypertension
Accounts for about 10% of hypertension cases
Occurs secondary to another known primary
problem

Examples of secondary hypertension

Renal hypertension
Endocrine hypertension
Neurogenic hypertension
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Hypertension
Complication of hypertension
Congestive heart failure
Stroke
Heart attack
Spontaneous hemorrhage
Renal failure
Retinal damage

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Hypotension
Low blood pressure
Occurs when
There is too little blood to fill the vessels
Heart is too weak to drive the blood
Orthostatic (postural) hypotension
Transient hypotensive condition
resulting from insufficient compensatory responses to
gravitational shifts in blood when
person moves from horizontal to vertical position
Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Hypotension
Circulatory shock
blood pressure falls so low that adequate blood
flow to the tissues can no longer be maintained
Four main types

Hypovolemic (low volume) shock

Cardiogenic (heart produced) shock
Vasogenic (vessel produced) shock
Neurogenic (nerve produced) shock

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Symptoms Shock
Hypotension
Systolic pressure below 90mmHg
Pale, cool & moist skin
Confusion, disorientation
Rise in heart rate, with peak pulse
Cessation of urination
Lack of blood flow to kidneys
Drop in blood pH
acidosis

Chapter 10 The Blood Vessels and Blood Pressure

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood 2007 Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning

Circulatory shock
( mean arterial pressure)

Cardiac output

Cardiac output

Total peripheral resistance

Widespread
vasodilation

Loss of blood volume

Loss of fluids
derived from
plasma

Severe
hemorrhage

Excessive
vomiting,
diarrhea,
urinary losses,
etc.

Hypovolemic
shock

Weakened
heart

Cardiogenic
shock

Vasodilator
substances
released from
bacteria

Histamine
released
in severe
allergic
reaction

Septic
shock

Anaphylactic
shock

Cardiogenic
shock

Loss of
vascular tone

Sympathetic
nerve activity

Neurogenic
shock

Fig. 10-39, p. 377