Concept explainers
To discuss:
Why arterial flow is pulsatile, but capillary and venous flow are not.
Introduction:
Arteries are the resistance vessels that give oxygenated blood to the organs. Arteries are known for their strong and resilient tissues that can withstand the pressure created by the heart. They are more muscular in nature than veins and able to maintain their round shape even when the vessels are empty. In order to keep the blood flowing in the artery, the heart must pulsate pressure. This is referred to as blood pressure (BP). The high blood pressure can lead to hypertension, and low blood pressure can lead to hypotension. This can be measured using a sphygmomanometer. The sphygmomanometer is wrapped around the arm to take measurement of the blood pressure, as the brachial artery that passes through the heart is relatively close to the heart.
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