Blood vessels are essential components of the cardiovascular system, serving as conduits for blood flow throughout the body.
There are five main types of …
Based on their size and function, arteries can be grouped into three types.
The elastic arteries are the largest arteries located close to the heart. They …
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels, with a diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
They comprise a single layer of endothelial cells surrounded by a basement …
A capillary bed is a network of 10 to 100 capillaries that run between an arteriole and a venule, facilitating microcirculation.
The oxygenated blood …
A vein is a blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Compared to an artery, a vein has a wider lumen that can measure from 0.5 mm to 3 …
When blood flows through the vessels, the friction between the vessel walls and blood creates a resistive force called peripheral or vascular resistance.
…
Venous return refers to the volume of blood flowing back to the heart through systemic veins.
It is primarily driven by the pressure difference between …
The pulse is a pressure wave caused by the expansion and recoil of elastic arteries after each systole.
It is a vital sign providing insights into the …
The nervous system regulates blood pressure through baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes.
Baroreceptors in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch respond …
Hormones play a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure.
For instance, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, epinephrine and norepinephrine, …
A normal blood pressure is necessary for healthy bodily functions. But, homeostatic imbalances may abruptly change the blood pressure, causing severe …
Light to moderate physical activity starts a chain of interlinked cardiovascular responses in the body.
Initially, the heart rate slightly increases, …
Systemic circulation involves a complex network of arteries and veins that facilitate the transport of blood between the heart and various organs of the …
The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, with a lumen diameter of about 2.5 cm and a wall thickness of about 2 mm.
It originates from the left …
The arch of the aorta, which continues from the ascending aorta, begins at the sternal angle and ends between the T4 and T5 vertebrae on the left side.
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The abdominal aorta originates from the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm and extends down to the L4 vertebra. It further branches into the visceral and …
Blood supply to the head and neck is provided by the common carotid arteries and branches of the subclavian artery.
The common carotid arteries, which …
The upper limbs get blood supply through the arteries arising from the subclavian artery.
These arteries initially run laterally between the clavicle and …
Originating from the abdominal aorta, the right and left common iliac arteries and their branches supply the pelvis and lower limbs.
At the sacroiliac …
Systemic veins drain deoxygenated blood from the tissues and return it to the right atrium of the heart.
The coronary sinus, located in the posterior …
Most of the thorax is drained by a system of veins called the azygos system, comprising the azygos, hemiazygos, and accessory hemiazygos veins.
The azygos …
The inferior vena cava is a large vein, fed by many smaller tributaries, that returns blood from the abdominopelvic organs to the heart.
Lumbar veins, …
Veins transporting blood from the upper limbs are classified into deep and superficial categories.
The ulnar and radial veins are the two prominent deep …
Blood from the lower limbs is drained by both superficial and deep veins.
The deep veins, such as the posterior tibial vein, formed by the union of the …
The hepatic portal system transports nutrient-rich, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver.
The hepatic portal vein is …
The pulmonary circulation transports deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the alveoli within the lungs. After exchanging gases, the …
The pulsed-Doppler effect is the main technique used in clinical echography to assess blood flow. Applied with conventional focused ultrasound Doppler …
The benefits of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on blood pressure have been proved in a large number of clinical trials in recent years. However, the …
