Vascular Flashcards
(176 cards)
Effect of age on arteries:
Arteries have properties to allow circulation propagation - as you get older these properties are lost, calcification occurs and vessels become less elastic = disease
proximal =
towards heart
distal =
away from heart
antegrade flow =
away from heart
retrograde flow =
towards heart
arteries and veins have 3 layers
intima, media, adventitia
intima
inner layer of vessel
vascular endothelium - provides lubrication
media
middle layer of vessel
made of elastin, collagen, layers of smooth muscle
provides elasticity
adventitia
outer layer of vessel
strong thick collagen layers with some elastin
fixes arteries in place
vein walls
walls are thin and very elastic
media and adventitia are less well-defined
distal veins have…
valves
the trunk or portal venous system do not have…
valves
How big are arterioles? What are walls made of? What do they do?
<1mm diameter
smooth muscle
control flow to distal capillary beds
Aorta =
The main artery that comes out of heart - main blood vessel that supplies body with blood (oxygen).
It runs straight down the centre of the body – sits just in front of spine, slightly to the left.
Ascending aorta
comes straight out of heart and into the aortic arch
Abdominal aorta splits into…
bifurcates into left and rigth common iliac arteries (at the level of the belly button to supply both legs with blood)
the thoracic aorta becomes the abdominal aorta at the level of the…
diaphragm
Abdominal aorta can be further divided into…
suprarenal = above kidney
Infrarenal aorta = below the renal arteries which supply blood to the kidneys
The abdominal aorta
Continuation of the descending thoracic aorta
Supplies all of the abdominal organs and the under surface of the diaphragm and parts of the abdominal wall. Its terminal goes on to supply the pelvis and lower limbs
the normal diameter of the abdominal aorta =
<2cm in diameter
Ultrasound: vein vs artery
arteries have thicker more muscular walls than veins
veins are easily compressed
central venous structures will fluctuate in size with respiration
Definition of an aneurysm:
An abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel by more than 50% of its normal diameter.
What diameter is considered an AAA?
> 3cm
When is an AAA at risk of rupture?
> 5.5cm