NURSING 3PA2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Coronary Sinus, Elastin, Pressure Gradient
Document Summary
Blood vessels are structures that pulsate, constrict, relax and proliferate. Three types of blood vessels: arteries, capillaries and veins. Large artery-> smaller arteries-> arterioles-> capillary beds of organs and. Tissues-> from capillaries into venules-> veins-> larger veins -> heart. Veins on the other hand bring blood towards the heart and merge together and as getting closer to the heart become larger. Arteries always carry oxygenated blood and veins carry oxygen-poor blood. In pulmonary circulation the opposite hold true, and arteries bring oxygen poor blood into lungs an veins with oxygen rich blood out of the lungs. Lumen- central blood containing space surrounded by blood vessels. Arteries and veins are made up of three tunics: tunica intima- innermost tunic. Walls of all blood vessels are lined with endothelial layer. Endothelial layer- flat cells ft together forming a slick surface to minimize friction of blood passing through lumen.
