Histology

• What are the two main components of the circulatory system?

  Cardiovascular system and lymph vascular system
• What are the main layers of an artery?

  • Tunica intima
  • Tunica media
  • Tunica adventitia
• What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?

  Transports blood through blood vessels
• What is the main structural difference between a capillary and the other two blood vessels shown?

  The capillary wall is made of a single layer of cells, while arteries and veins have thicker walls
• How do the circulatory system components work together?

  • Cardiovascular system: transports blood
  • Lymph vascular system: transports lymph
  • Together: provide systemic fluid circulation
  • Maintain body homeostasis
• How do the structural differences between arteries, veins, and capillaries relate to their functions?

  • Arteries need thick walls to withstand high pressure of blood flow from the heart
  • Veins have thinner walls since they carry blood at lower pressure back to the heart
  • Capillaries have thin walls to facilitate efficient exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues
• What is the function of arteries in the cardiovascular system?

  Carry blood from the heart
• What is the main difference between the structure of an artery and a vein?

  Arteries have a thick outer wall, while veins have a thin layer of muscle and elastic fibers
• What is microcirculation and its components?

  • Starts with arterioles
  • Ends in venules
  • Includes pre- and postcapillary vessels
  • Facilitates exchange around capillaries
• What is the innermost layer of the artery called?

  Endothelium
• How does the lumen size of arteries compare to that of veins?

  Arteries have a narrow lumen; veins have a wide lumen
• What is the layer of the artery that contains involuntary muscle fibers?

  Tunica media
• How do the walls of arteries differ from those of veins?

  Arteries have thick, rigid walls; veins have thin, flexible walls
• What is the structure and function of the tunica media?

  • Middle layer of blood vessels
  • Contains circular smooth muscle fibers
  • Contains elastic membranes
• What is the structure and function of the tunica adventitia?

  • Outermost layer of blood vessels
  • Composed of connective tissue
  • Contains longitudinal elastic fibers
• What are the main components of the cardiovascular system?

  Arteries, veins, and capillaries
• What is the function of the tunica media layer of the artery?

  It contains involuntary muscle fibers that allow the artery to contract and dilate
• How does the structure of an artery allow it to perform its functions?

  • Tunica intima endothelium allows for blood flow
  • Tunica media muscle fibers enable contraction/dilation
  • Tunica adventitia provides structural support and flexibility
• How does the thickness and composition of blood vessel layers vary?

  It varies depending on vessel type and location
• What is the difference between macrovascular and microvascular complications as shown in the image?

  Macrovascular complications affect larger blood vessels, while microvascular complications affect smaller blood vessels
• What does the lymph vascular system transport?

  Lymph through lymphatic vessels
• How are blood vessels arranged in the cardiovascular system?

  In a hierarchical network
• What is the role of pre- and postcapillary vessels in microcirculation?

  Facilitate exchange around capillaries
• What type of muscle fibers are found in the tunica media?

  Circular smooth muscle fibers
• What do venules connect to in the microcirculatory network?

  Capillaries
• If a patient is experiencing kidney problems, which type of complication would the doctor suspect?

  • Nephropathy (microvascular complication)
• What is the name of the outermost layer of the artery?

  Tunica adventitia
• What do arterioles connect to in the microcirculatory network?

  Capillaries
• What is the surface area of capillaries for exchange?

  600 m²
• What are the key features that differentiate arteries from veins?

  • Artery walls: Thick, rigid
  • Vein walls: Thin, flexible
  • Artery lumen: Narrow
  • Vein lumen: Wide
  • Arteries carry blood from heart
  • Veins carry blood to heart
• If you wanted to measure the diameter of an artery, which microscope would you use?

  Scanning electron microscope
• What percentage of total extracellular fluid is blood?

  5%
• What are the three main layers of blood vessels?

  Tunica intima, tunica media, tunica adventitia
• What is the structure and function of the tunica intima?

  • Innermost layer of blood vessels
  • Composed of endothelium (flattened epithelial cells)
  • Contains elastic fibers
• What is the net filtration pressure at the mid capillary?

  0 mm Hg
• What are the key differences between the structure and function of the tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica adventitia layers of an artery?

  • Tunica intima: Innermost layer, contains endothelium that comes into contact with blood
  • Tunica media: Middle layer, contains involuntary muscle fibers for contraction/dilation
  • Tunica adventitia: Outermost layer, provides structural support and flexibility
• Why do capillaries have a large surface area?

  To facilitate exchange in the body
• If the capillary hydrostatic pressure at the venous end is 18 mm Hg and the blood colloidal osmotic pressure is 25 mm Hg, what is the net filtration pressure?

  -7 mm Hg
• How do the effects of macrovascular and microvascular complications differ in terms of the size of the blood vessels affected?

  Macrovascular complications affect larger blood vessels, while microvascular complications affect smaller blood vessels
• What percentage of blood volume is contained in capillaries?

  5%