1: Describe the General Characteristics of Blood Vessels

Blood Vessels

Arteries, veins, and capillaries are “dynamic structures” that accomplish the delivery of blood throughout your body. The pulmonary circuit carries blood to the lungs for gas exchange, oxygen is picked up, and carbon dioxide is removed. The systemic circuit delivers oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body in exchange for carbon dioxide. As you study the vascular system, keep in mind that many arteries and deep veins are named the same and parallel with each other. Arteries always carry blood away from the heart, and veins always carry blood toward the heart. Regardless of type, vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood are colored red, and vessels carrying oxygen-poor blood are colored blue. First, learn the specific characteristics of blood vessels. Second, practice numerous blood-tracing problems to truly understand the “circuit” of blood circulation.

1: Describe the general characteristics of blood vessels. __ Name the main types of vessels, describing the directional flow of blood within each type. __ Describe the structure and function of three types of arteries, and name a body location for each. __ Name the tunics of a blood vessel. __ Clearly distinguish capillaries from sinusoids, naming body locations for each. __ Explain the structural basis of capillary permeability. __ Describe four routes involved in capillary permeability. __ Distinguish a metarteriole from a thoroughfare channel. __ Define precapillary sphincter, and describe its function. __ Compare postcapillary venules to capillaries. __ Explain how to histologically distinguish a vein from an artery, including comments on lumina and tunics. __ Explain the function of valves in veins, and describe them on varicose veins. __ Define vascular anastomoses, explain their functions, and identify body locations. __ Define vasa vasorum, explain their functions, and name a couple of their locations. __ Define low permeability capillaries and their location

2: Describe pulmonary circulation. __ Name the major vessels of the pulmonary circuit. __ Trace a drop of blood in the pulmonary trunk back to the left atrium.

3: Describe systemic circulation. __ List the major arteries, and name the part of the body they supply. __ List the major veins that serve as tributaries for the superior and inferior venae cavae, naming the parts of the body that they drain. __ Describe the special function of the hepatic portal system, and explain the significance of the portal-systemic anastomoses. __ Diagram the pathway of the hepatic portal system using a flowchart format. __ Name each part of the body drained by a vessel of the hepatic portal system.

. Human Antatomy __ Explain what makes a portal system extremely unique, and answer the question, “Does the human body have other portal systems and, if so, where?” __ Trace a drop of blood from the kidney to the spleen. __ Trace a drop of blood from the descending colon to the right hand. __ Formulate several blood-tracing problems, and check your answers with your professor.

4: Describe blood vessel disorders. __ Distinguish atherosclerosis from arteriosclerosis (see “A Closer Look”). __ Describe deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb. __ Describe venous disease and the population it affects most. __ Describe microangiopathy of diabetes. __ Describe the various arteriovenous malformations.

D:\Docs\2017-12-07\048533bc6d805697771efc2d0039d2e2.doc