Cardiovascular System:

Blood Vessels
Carina C. Batol
Associate Professor IV
Bataan Peninsula State University
blood vessel
a tubular structure carrying
blood through the tissues and
organs; a vein, artery,
 General Structures of Blood Vessel
• Lumen- central canal of all blood vessels
• Arterial wall- covers lumen
 Tunica Intima (innermost layer)- composed of
endothelial cell
 Tunica Media (middle covering)- thickest layer of
arterial wall, composed of collagenous fibers,
connective tissue, smooth muscle and elastic fibers
 Tunica Adventitia (outermost covering)-
composed of collagenous and elastic fibers. Where
nerves and lymphatic vessels are found
Vasa vasorum (vessels of the vessels)- forms
capillary networks within tunica adventitia and outer part of
tunica media, nourishes walls of the large arteries
 Arteries
Carries away blood from the heart to the organs
Trunk- great arteries that emerges from the heart
Major Trunks: Aorta, Pulmonary Trunk
Two types of Arteries
• Elastic Arteries: expand with each beat of the heart
• Muscular Arteries: branch into smaller arterioles
Arterioles are smaller branch of arteries that can expand as
much as 400% to increase blood flow
Metarterioles: small vessels of branch of arterioles which
carries blood to the capillaries
Pulse: corresponds to the beating of the heart and the
alternating expansion and recoil of the arterial wall
 Average Pulse
Rate
Child- 80-140
Adult- 70-90
Tachycardia-
condition where pulse
rate exceeds 100 beats
per minute
Bradycardia-
condition when the
pulse rate is lower than
60 beats per minute
 Capillary
microscopic vessels with walls mostly one cell thick and single
layered (tunica intima), porous and allows the passage of water
and small particles of dissolved material connects arterial and
venous system
Venules-larger vessels formed by converged Capillaries
Three types of capillaries:
1. Continuous Capillary- found in skeletal muscle,
made up of one continuous endothelial cells
2. Fenestrated Capillary- consist of two or more
endothelial cells connected by fenestration or pores, usually
found in kidney, endocrine glands and intestines
3. Discontinuous Capillary(Sinusoids)- have
fenestration and much wider lumen than the other types,
highly permeable, found in liver and spleen
THREE TYPES OF CAPILLARIES:
Capillary Blood Flow
Blood leaves the heart travelling about 30-40
cm/s but is slowed by 2.5cm/s by the time it reaches
the arterioles and to the less than 1mm/sec in the
capillaries. Blood remains in the capillaries for only a
second or two, but given the short length of
capillaries (about 1mm), that is long enough for the
crucial exchange of nutrients and wastes.
 Veins
• Carry deoxygenated blood from the body
tissues towards the heart except from the
three
1. The four pulmonary veins
2. The hepatic portal system of veins
3. Veins in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal
system
• Contains semilunar bicuspid valves that
permits the blood to flow in one direction
Venous valves, which are derived from folds
of tunica intima, abundant in legs
THREE TYPES OF VESSELS:
 CIRCULATION OF BLOOD

Blood circulates throughout the body in two main

circuits:
*Pulmonary circuit/ pulmonary circulation
*Systematic circuit/ systematic circulation
 PULMONARY CIRCULATION
- supplies blood only to the lungs
-it carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the
lungs, where carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is
added, the returns the newly oxygenated blood to the
heart for distribution to the rest of the body
-takes 4 to 8 seconds
Major blood vessels of the pulmonary circulation:
(a) Pulmonary trunk and two pulmonary arteries- carry
deoxygenated blood from right ventricle of the heart to
the lungs
 SYSTEMATIC CIRCULATION

- supplies all the cells, tissues, and organs of the body

with oxygenated blood, and also returns deoxygenated
blood
-takes 25 to 30 sec the systematic circuit from the
heartand back again
Systematic circulation is divided into two divisions:
(a) Arterial division- is the aorta
the heart as the AORTIC ARCH, and continues down
through the thorax and abdomen as the DESCENDING
AORTA. The descending aorta gives off branches to
internal organs in the thoracic and abdomnial cavities
and then terminates in the two common ILIAC
ARTERIES, which supply the lower extremities
Major branches of the arterial division / aortaare the
following:
Branches of Ascending Aorta:
Right Coronary-which serves the heart
Left Coronary-which serves the heart
 Arterial Branches of the Aortic
Arch
Brachiocephalic Artery- first branch of the aortic
arch, splits into the Right Common Cartoid Artery
and Right Subclavian Artery
Left Common Cartoid Artery- second branch of the
aortic arch, divides to form Left Internal Cartoid
(which serves the brain) and the Left External
Cartoid (which serves the skin and muscle of the
head and neck)
 Arterial Branches of the Aortic
Arch
Left Subclavian Artery- third branch of the aortic
arch, gives off an important branch-- the vertebral
artery (which serves part of the brain). In the axilla
the subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery
and continues into the arm as the brachial artery
(which supplies the arm). At the elbow, the brachial
artery splits to form the radial and ulnar arteries
(which serve the forearm)
 Arterial Branches of the
Thoracic Arch
Intercostal arteries (10 pairs)- supply the muscles of
the thorax wall
Other branches of the thoracic aorta that supply
the lungs:
Bronchial arteries
Esophageal arteries
Phrenic arteries (diaphragm)
 Arterial Branches of the
Abdominal Arch
Celiac trunk- first ranch of the abdominal aorta
- a single vessel that has three branches:
*Left gastric artery- supplies the stomach
*Splenic artery- supplies the spleen
*Common hepatic- supplies the liver
Superior Mesenteric artery- supplies most of the
small intestine and the first half of the large intestie,
or colon
 Arterial Branches of the
Abdominal Arch
Renal arteries- serves the kidneys
Gonadal (right and lefft) arteries- supply the
gonads
- they are called the ovarian arteries in the females
(serves the ovaries)
- testicular arteries in males (serves the testes)
Lumbar arteries- several pairs of the arteries serving
the heavy muscles of the abdomen and the trunk
walls
 Arterial Branches of the
Abdominal Arch
Inferior mesentric atery- a small unpaired artery
supplying the second half of the large intestine
Common iliac (right and left) artery- the final
branches of the abdominal aorta
Divided into:
Internal Iliac Artery- supplies the pelvic organs
(bladder, rectum,and so on)
External Iliac Artery- enters the thigh, where it
beomes the femoral artery
 Arterial Branches of the
Abdominal Arch
Branch of Femoral Artery
Deep femoral artery- serve the thigh
Popliteal artery- the femoral artery becomes
popliteal artery in the knee
- splits into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries--
supply the leg and foot
The anterior tibial artery terminates in the dorsalis
pedis artery- supplies the dorsum of the foot
 Major veins of the systematic
circulation
Superior Vena Cava- venous blood from the upper
part of the body eventually drains in superior vena
cava
Inferior Vena cava- all the venous blood from lower
extremities , pelvis, and abdomen drains into the
inferior vena cava
Coronary sinus- drains blood from the walls of the
heart
 Veins draining into superior
vena cava
Radial Veins and ulnar veins- deep veins that drains
the forearm
Brachial vein- the unification of radial and ulnar vein,
it drains the arm and empties into axillary vein
Axillary vein- transports blood from the thorax,
armpit, and upper limb
Cephalic vein-provides for the superficial drainage of
the lateral aspect of the arm and empties into axillary
vein
Basilic vein- superficial veins that drains the medial
aspect of the arm and empties into the brachial
vein proximally.
Median cubital vein- unites the basillic and
cephalic veins at the anterior aspect of the elbow.
Subclavian vein- receives venous blood from the
arm through the axillary vein and from the skin and
muscles of the head through the external jugular
vein
Vertebral vein-drains the posterior part of the
head
Internal jugular vein-drains the dural sinuses of the
brain.
Brachiocephalic (R and L) veins- large veins that
receive venous drainage from the subclavian,
vertebral, and internal jugular vein
Azygos vein- single vein that drains the thorax
 Veins draining into inferior
vena cava
Anterior and posterior tibial vein, and the peronial
vein- drains the leg
Popliteal vein- the posterior tibial vein becomes the
popliteal vein at the knee
Femoral vein-the posterior tibial vein becomes
femoral vein at the thigh.
The great saphenous vein-longest veins in the body
Common iliac vein (L and R)- formed in the union of
the external iliac and internal iliac vein
External iliac and internal iliac- drains the pelvis
Right gonadal vein-drains the right ovary in
females and right testicle in males
Left gonadal vein-empties into the left renal vein
Renal vein(L and R)-drains the kidney
Hepatic portal vein-single vain that drains the
digestive tract organs
Hepatic veins (L and R)- drain the liver
 PORTAL SYSTEMS
• a vascular arrangement in which
blood from the capillaries of one
organ is transported to the capillaries
of another organ by a connecting vein
or veins

• The human body has two portal

systems.
 HYPOTHALAMIC-HYPOPHYSEAL
PORTAL SYSTEM
It moves blood
from the
capillary bed of
the
hypothalamus
directly, by
means of veins,
to the sinusoidal
bed of the
pituitary gland.
 HEPATIC PORTAL SYSTEM

It moves blood
from the
capillary beds of
the intestines,
spleen, and
pancreas to the
sinusoidal beds
of the liver.
 CEREBRAL CIRCULATION
• The brain is supplied with blood by four major arteries: two vertebral
arteries and two internal carotid arteries.

1. Vertebral Arteries- supply blood to the

cerebellum, the brain stem and the posterior part of
the cerebrum
2. Internal Carotid Arteries- supply the rest of the
cerebrum and both eyes

• All the blood entering the cerebrum must first pass through a circular
anastomosis, or shunt, the cerebral arterial circle (circle of Willis).
 CUTANEOUS
• CIRCULATION
It is the circulation and blood
supply of the skin.
• When body temperature
increases, more blood
flows to the superficial
layers, from which heat
radiates from the body. In
contrast, when the body
needs to conserve heat,
blood is shunted away
from the surface of the
skin through deep
arteriovenous
anastomoses.
 SKELETAL MUSCLE
CIRCULATION
• Because the total body ass of skeletal muscle is
so large, the blood vessels play an important role
in homeostasis, especially during physical
activity.

• The neural regulation of blood flow within

skeletal muscles is controlled largely by complex
interaction of neurotransmitters of the
sympathetic nervous system.
 FETAL CIRCULATION
The circulatory system of a fetus differs from that of a child and
adult for two main reasons:

1. The fetus gets oxygen and nutrients and

eliminates carbon dioxide and waste products
from the mother’s blood.

2. The fetal lungs, kidneys, and digestive system

(except for the liver) are not functional. At birth,
however, the baby must make several rapid
physiological and anatomical adjustments as it
shifts to an essentially adult circulation.
 FETAL CIRCULATION
• Placenta- thick bed of
tissues and blood vessels
embedded in the wall of
mother’s uterus.
• Umbilical cord- connects
the placenta to the fetus
• Umbilical vein- carries
oxygenated, nutrient-rich
blood from the placenta to
the fetus
• Umbilical arteries- carry
both deoxygenated blood
and waste material from
the fetus to the placenta.
PHYSIOLOGY
OF
CIRCULATION
Hemodynamics - study of the physical princples that govern
blood flow through the blood vessels and heart

Blood Flow - movement of blood through a vessel, tissue, or

organ.

Arterial Pulse - a measurement of the heart's contraction rate

because a pulse wave is created when the left ventricle
contracts.

The pulse averages 70-76 beats per minute on a normal resting person
(influenced by activity, postural changes, and emotions)

Blood Pressure - the pressure of the blood in the circulatory

system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related
to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and
elasticity of the arterial walls
Blood Velocity - the rate of blood flow through a given vessel

Peripheral Resistance - the resistance of the arteries to blood

flow. As the arteries constrict; the resistance increases, and as
they dilate; the resistance decreases.

Regulation of Blood Flow

The resistance of the blood flow relies on the size of the lumen
of a blood vessel which is primarily regulated by nervous and
hormonal mechanisms.

VASOMOTION
Vasoconstriction - process of constricting blood vessels
Vasodilation - process of dillating blood vessels
Nervous Control
Sympathetic stimuli cause the blood vessels (arterioles,
metarterioles, and venules) of the skin and abdominal organs to
constrict, producing a decrease in blood flow to those areas.
In contrast, sympathetic stimuli cause blood vessels in the
heart, brain, and skeletal muscles to dilate, increasing blood flow.
Parasympathetic stimuli cause the blood vessels of the
reproductive organs and digestive tract to dilate.

Hormonal and Chemical Control

Vasoconstrictors - catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine,
dopamine), the hypothalamic peptides vasopressin and oxytocin
and the blood-borne angiotensin II
Vasodilation - Eosinophils
Autoregulation
A manifestation of local blood flow
regulation. it is defined as the intrinsic ability of
an organ to maintain a constant blood flow
despite changes in perfusion pressure (coronary
blood flow).
Factors Affecting Blood Pressure
Hydrostatic pressure and gravity- pressure that results from
gravity acting on the fluids of the body influences
hydrostatic pressure.
Blood volume- The total amount of blood in circulation is
known as the blood volume. A severe loss of blood due to
hemorrhage, shock, burns, or other dehydration factors will
lower the blood pressure because there is less blood in the
arteries.

Vessel elasticity- Vessel elasticity of the large arteries

determines the pressure within a vessel when the ventricles
contract. The elasticity results from the resilient nature of
the arterial wall.
Cardiac output- The volume of blood ejected by the left
ventricle per minute is the cardiac output. If the cardiac
output increases and the volume of the vessels remains the
same, blood pressure nd blood flow will increase.

Blood viscocity- The viscocity of blood determines its

resistance to flow.
Regulation of Arterial Blood
Pressure
The following factors affect arterial blood pressure by way of
mechanisms that regulate vessel resistance and cardiac
output.

Vasomotor center- Located in the lower part of the pons

and the medulla oblongata. One of its major function is to
regulate the diameter of blood vessels, especially arterioles.
Higher Brain Center and emotions- The higher brain centers
and emotions play important roles in affecting arterial
pressure. emotions such as grief, loneliness, and depression
cause a decrease in sympathetic stimulation, dilation of
arterioles, and decrease in arterial blood pressure

Regulation by the kidneys- As blood pressure increases

beyond normal, the kidneys allow more water to leave the
body in the urine. Since the source of this water is the
bloodstream, blood volume decreases, which in turn
decreases blood pressure.
 MEASURING ARTERIAL
BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure level are measured by two numbers , both
expressed as millimeters of mercury. The first number
,called the systolic pressure , represents the highest
pressure reached during ventricular ejection, and the
second number , called the diastolic pressure, represents
the minimum pressure just before venticular ejection
bagins.A normal young adult's blood pressure is 120/80
mmHg or less. Blood pressure is considered high, or
hypertensive , in adult when the syostolic reading
exceeds 140 and the diastolic reading is higher than 95.
 Blood pressure varies with age. The systolic pressure of
a newborn baby may be only 40, rising to 80 after a
month. During adolescene it may progress from 100 to
120, and it continues to rise slightly throughout
adulthood. The normal pressure of a 60- year- old man
is about 140/90 , depending on many factors.
Measurement of Arterial Blood
Pressure
-The instrument
used for
measuring
arterial blood
pressure is
Sphygmomano-
meter
 THE EFFECTS OF AGING ON
BLOOD VESSELS

A disease in which the arteries that supply blood to

the brain harden and narrow is called Cerebral
arteriosclerosis. If blood vessels leading to the brain
become blocked or leak so that the brain is denied
blood for even a short time , a serious brain damage
and even death may occur. Arteriosclerosis and
hypertension (high blood pressure) are the chief causes
of (stroke).
 Transient ischemic attacks (or “little strokes")
occur when momentary blood clots form in arteries
leading to the brain. Multiple infarct dementia
occurs when recurrent small clots in the brain
destroy brain tissue, impairing thinking and
memory. Hypertension usually accompanies
atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds
up in the arteries , narrowing the lumen and
reducing the elasticity of the vessels.