Perfusion

• What is the central organ involved in perfusion?

  Heart
• What does perfusion refer to?

  Flow of blood to oxygenate cells
• What happens to cells over time with poor perfusion?

  Cell death occurs
• What factors does perfusion depend on?

  • Sufficient cardiac output
  • Sufficient blood pressure
  • Adequate coagulation
• What two components does cardiac output rely on?

  Heart rate and stroke volume
• What is heart rate?

  Electrical activity that pumps the heart
• What is stroke volume?

  Volume of blood in the heart when it pumps
• What are the key factors influencing cardiac output?

  • Nervous systems
  • Fluid volume
  • Heart muscle contraction
  • Resistance in vessels
• What does blood pressure rely on?

  Cardiac output and peripheral resistance
• What is cardiac output?

  Amount of blood the heart is pumping
• What is peripheral resistance?

  Resistance of the arteries to blood flow
• What factors influence cardiac output?

  • Nervous systems
  • Fluid volume
  • Heart muscle contraction
  • Resistance in vessels
• What factors influence peripheral resistance?

  • Fluid volume (blood viscosity)
  • Vessel radius (vasodilation/constriction)