HTHSCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Baroreceptor, Cerebral Cortex, Blood Vessel

• School: Mohawk College
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: HTHSCI 2H03
• Professor: Kirsten Culver

Document Summary

Blood pressure is a function of cardiac output x total peripheral resistance. Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped per minute. It is determined by the heart rate and the stroke volume (i. e. the amount of blood pumped by the ventricle in one contraction). The faster the heart rate or greater the blood volume, the greater the cardiac output. Total peripheral resistance refers to the friction in the vascular created by the size of the artery. The smaller the diameter (lumen) of the vessel, the greater the resistance, and the greater the blood pressure. Optimal blood pressure: systolic < 120, diastolic < 80. Normal blood pressure: systolic < 130, diastolic <85. The baroreceptors in the aorta and the internal carotid artery sense pressure within the vessels. Baroreceptors sends signals to the vasomotor center in the medulla oblongata. The vasomotor centre will trigger a rise or lowering of blood pressure as needed.