Introduction:
Only in the pulmonary circuit of the lungs, the arteries carry de-oxygenated blood and veins carry oxygenated blood. When compared to systemic unit, the pulmonary artery has distensible walls with less elastic tissue and blood pressure is about 25/10 mm Hg. The systemic capillaries have hydrostatic pressure of about 17 mm Hg, while the pulmonary has 10 mm Hg. This low pressure has two major implications in pulmonary circulation. Firstly, there is more time for gas exchange due to slow flow of blood. Secondly, the hydrostatic pressure is overridden by the oncotic pressure, and the capillaries are engaged only in the absorption. This action prevents fluid accumulation in the lumens and alveolar.
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ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY: THE UNITY OF FORM
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- Blood flows through the___________ vena cavae and coronary sinus into the right atrium through the to the right ventricle, through the pulmonary valve to the pulmonary trunk into the right and left ____________to the lungs, then leaves the lungs through the pulmonary veins and flows into the _______________, through the mitral valve to the , and through the______________ to the ___________________aorta.arrow_forwardAssume that you are following one drop of blood as it travels through the heart and body of an individual. If that drop were to be in the right pulmonary artery , which is the next major vessel that that drop will encounter as it continues its voyage?arrow_forwardwhen the blood from the heart goes out into the rest of the body it is oxygen rich blood, however when it comes back to the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava would it be oxygenated blood or deoxygenated blood?arrow_forward
- By the time the blood leaves the lung capillaries to return to the heart, what percentage of the blood’s hemoglobin has united with oxygen?arrow_forwardCompare the relative oxygen content of the blood flowing in the pulmonary artery with that in the pulmonary vein.arrow_forwardNicotine stimulates both the SA node to increase its firing rate and the myocardium to contract more forcefully, which raises cardiac output. It also causes arteriole vasoconstriction. Given this information, would you expect the blood pressure of a smoker to be relatively higher or lower than that of a nonsmoker? Explain.arrow_forward
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