Cardiovascular System

Vessels and Circulation

Vessels and Circulation

Two groups of blood vessels
PULMONARY
SYSTEMIC

Closed system
Begins and ends at the heart
Major types of vessels
ARTERIES
CAPILLARIES
VEINS

Size and Direction

Blood moves through arteries that get
progressively smaller
Blood moves through veins that get
progressively larger
Arteries Arterioles Capillaries
Venules Veins largest veins superior
and inferior vena cava
Arteries carry blood AWAY from the heart
Veins carry blood TOWARD the heart

Histology of Blood Vessels

Three layers
1. Tunica intima
endothelial layer and
CT
2. Tunica media
smooth muscle layer
3. Tunica externa
CT sheath around the
vessel

How to tell an artery from a vein

Tunica media is thicker in arteries
In sections arteries will appear round, the
veins tend to collapse
Endothelial layer of arteries often has a
pleated appearance

Types of arteries
ELASTIC ARTERIES

Large vessels
Transport large volumes of blood
Elastic fibers in the tunica media to tolerate blood pressure
Aortic trunk, common carotid, subclavian, common iliac

MUSCULAR ARTERIES
Transport blood to muscles and organs
Fewer elastic fibers, more smooth muscle
External carotids, brachials, femorals, mesenterics

ARTERIOLES
Smaller diameter, little tunica media or tunica externa
Control flow of blood between arteries and capillaries

Capillaries
Very small diameter just larger than the diameter of a red
blood cell
Exchange between the blood and surrounding tissues
Capillary density directly related to the metabolic activity of
its cells
Tissues with higher metabolic rates have more capillaries per unit
area

A capillary is just an endothelial layer of simple squamous

cells and CT
Capillary beds form the functional basis of the
cardiovascular system
Human body is estimated to have about 50,000 miles of
capillaries with a total exchange area of 6300 square
meters two football fields!

Capillaries

Veins
Veins collect blood from all the tissues and
return it to the heart
High volume vessels hold 60% of the
circulating blood
Veins have thinner walls and very little elastic
fibers
Venules are small veins that collect blood from
the capillaries
Medium size veins
Large veins
Veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood

Distribution of blood

Pulmonary circuit
Pulmonary arteries carry blood AWAY from
the heart to the lungs
This blood is low in oxygen, high in carbon
dioxide
Pulmonary veins carry blood BACK to the
heart
This blood is high in oxygen and will be
sent out to the body tissues through the
systemic circuit

Arteries

Veins

Hepatic Portal System

System of TWO capillary beds
Digested material is absorbed from the digestive
system by one capillary bed
Goes to the liver for processing in a second
capillary bed
Blood returns to venous circulation via the
hepatic vein to the inferior vena cava
Hepatic portal vein is formed from the
Superior mesenteric vein
Inferior mesenteric vein
Splenic vein

Hepatic portal system

Fetal Circulation
Short circuits that bypass fetal lungs
Foramen ovale (fossa ovalis)
Ductus arteriosus (ligamentum
arteriosum)
Both of these bypass circuits seal up at
birth when the lungs become functional

Fetal Heart

Cat Vessels