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Understanding the Cardiovascular System: Comparing Arteries and Veins

This article explores the physiology of the cardiovascular system, focusing on the characteristics of arteries and veins. Arteries possess a thicker tunica media, smaller lumen, and withstand higher pressure as they carry blood away from the heart. In contrast, veins have a thinner media and larger lumen, relying on external structures and valves for blood return. Key concepts include arterial pulse, blood pressure measurement, and factors influencing hypertension, such as age, diet, and neural factors. Join us in understanding how these two vital components differ in structure and function.

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Understanding the Cardiovascular System: Comparing Arteries and Veins

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The Cardiovascular System

  2. Physiology of Circulation

  3. Compare and Contrast – Arteries & Veins

  4. Arteries - Characteristics • Thicker tunica media – smooth muscle layer • Smaller lumen • Elastic – stretch and recoil as blood is pumped through • High pressure • Carry blood away from heart

  5. Veins - Characteristics • Thin tunica media (smooth muscle layer) • Larger lumen • Rely on other structures to help return blood to heart • Valves • Skeletal muscle • Pressure changes in thoracic cavity

  6. Arterial Pulse • Pulse: the alternating expansion and recoil of artery as the left ventricle contracts • Usually equals pulse rate • Normal pulse rate: 70-76 bpm • Pressure points: pulse points compressed to stop blood flow

  7. Blood Pressure • Pressure blood exerts against the inner walls of the blood vessels • Blood flows from aorta  arteries arterioles  capillaries  venules  veins  vena cava • Pressure is strongest at the aorta, and zero at the vena cava

  8. You Decide: • Which was cut in the man – an artery or vein? How do you know? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsM0CwqGrBs

  9. Measuring Blood Pressure • Systolic pressure: pressure in arteries at the peak of ventricular contraction • Diastolic pressure: pressure when ventricles relax • normal BP: 120 (systolic)/80 (diastolic)

  10. Factors affecting blood pressure • Peripheral resistance • Friction encountered as blood flows through vessels • Age, weight, time of day, exercise, body position, emotional state, drugs • Neural factors • Sympathetic system causes vasoconstriction of vessels which increases blood pressure • Renal factors (kidneys) • Alter blood volume • As BP increases above normal, kidneys excrete more water into urine

  11. Factors Continued • Temperature • Cold causes vasoconstriction, heat is a vasodilator • Chemicals • Nicotine causes vasoconstriction (increases bp), alcohol causes vasodilation (decreases bp) • Diet • Low salt, saturated fats and cholesterol help prevent hypertension (high bp)

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