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Blood vessels are essential components of the circulatory system, divided into three main types: arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, with arterioles connecting to capillaries, where gas and nutrient exchange occurs. Veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart with the help of valves. Key disorders affecting blood vessels include hypertension, myocardial infarction, and atherosclerosis. Effective blood flow control involves mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, vasodilation, and the action of skeletal muscles and valves.
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Vessels • Arteries • Strong elastic vessels that carry blood away from the heart • Smallest ones are called arterioles – connect to capillaries • Veins • Thinner, less muscular vessels that carry blood toward the heart • Smallest ones are called venules – connect to capillaries • Contain valves • Capillaries • Penetrate nearly all tissues • Walls are single-layered squamous cells • Very thin • Function: allow gas/nutrient/waste exchange
Control of Blood Flow • Precapillary sphincters • Circular, valve-like muscle at arteriole-capillary junction • Vasoconstriction • Narrowing blood vessels’ lumen (passageway) • Vasodilation • Expanding blood vessel’ lumen
Control of Blood Flow • Through veins – very inefficient • Slow, weak arteriole pushing doesn’t help much • What helps • Contraction of diaphragm • Pumping action of skeletal muscles • Valves
Blood Pressure • Average is 120/80 (systolic/diastolic)
Major Blood Vessels • Aorta – largest artery, leaves heart from LV • Ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, abdominal aorta • Pulmonary Trunk • Leaves RV • Splits left and right and lead to lungs • Pulmonary Veins • Return blood from lungs to heart • Connects to LA • Superior and inferior vena cava • return blood from head (superior) and body (inferior) to the heart • Connects at RA
Disorders • MVP – mitral valve prolapse – mitral valve doesn’t close all the way; creates a clicking sound at the end of the cardiac cycle • Heart murmurs – valves do not close completely; causing a harmless sound
Disorders • Myocardial infarction – a blood clot obstructs a coronary artery – commonly called a heart attack • Hypertension – high blood pressure, force within arteries is too high
Disorders • Atherosclerosis • Deposits of fatty materials (cholesterol) which form a plaque and block blood flow • Treatment: • Insertion of catheter and balloon to open the vessels • Can also do a bypass • Vein is inserted to replace the artery to supply blood to the heart