Blood Pressure, Vascular Resistance, and Venous Return

All flashcards

What is cardiac output?

The volume of blood pumped by the ventricles per minute.

What does vascular compliance describe?

How readily a vessel expands as its contents or pressure increase.

Why are arterioles called resistance vessels?

Their adjustable diameter makes them a major site of resistance and pressure drop.

What is the respiratory pump?

Breathing-related pressure changes that help move venous blood toward the heart.

What is venoconstriction?

Contraction of smooth muscle in vein walls, which can promote venous return.

Quiz questions

1. During a traditional cuff blood pressure measurement, what does the first Korotkoff sound indicate?Answer: The cuff pressure corresponding to systolic pressure.
2. If a vessel's radius is halved while other factors remain constant, how does its resistance change according to Poiseuille's relationship?Answer: It increases sixteenfold.
3. What distinguishes atherosclerosis from arteriosclerosis?Answer: Atherosclerosis involves plaque buildup in artery walls; arteriosclerosis broadly means arterial stiffening.
4. During inhalation, how does the respiratory pump encourage venous blood to move toward the heart?Answer: Thoracic pressure falls, encouraging blood to move from abdominal veins into the thorax.
5. How can venoconstriction affect cardiac preload?Answer: It can increase venous return, raising the stretch of cardiac muscle before contraction.