Enlarged, swollen, twisted veins often causedby damaged or faulty valves that allow bloodto travel in the wrong direction Common factors: pooling of blood in the feetand legs and inefficient venous returnaresulting

Smallest and mostnumerous of the bloodvessels Connects arteries andveins to exchange materials between bloodand tissue cells

Physiology of Circulation

The alternating expansiand recoil ofan artery that occurs with each beat ofthe left ventricle creates a pressurewave- a pulse- that travels through theentire arterial system (N) Pulse Rate: 60-100bpm It can be influenced by activity, posturalachanges, and emotions

You can feel a pulse in any artery lying close to thebody surface by compressing the artery againstfirm tissue; this provides an easy way of counting

radial surfaces at the wrist is routinely used to take a pulse measurement

specific areas compressed tostop blood flow into distal tissues during significantblood loss or hemorrhage

is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of yourarteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts ofyour body.

measures the pressure in your arteries whenyour heart beats

measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats

less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic

120-129 systolic and less than 8O diastolic

130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic

at least 140 systolic or at least 90 diastolica

higher than 180 systolic and/or higher than 120diastolic

can be 90 or less systolic, or 60 or less diastolic, butthese numbers can vary because symptoms help determine when blood pressure is too low

two parts of serous pericardium

branch from the base of the aorta and encircles the heart at the atrioventricular groove.

- return or drain deoxygenated blood from the myocardium back to the right atrium

Most venous blood returns via the

aorta segments

caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries) and other parts of the body

supplies the brain

supplies skin and muscles of head and neck

supplies the cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord

upper body (head & arms)

lower body

superficial drainage of the lateral aspect of the arm and empties into the axillary vein

-superficial drainage of the medial aspect of the arm and empties into the brachial vein

cephalic and basilic join at the elbow (often chosen as the site for withdrawing blood for the purpose of blood testing)

receives venous blood from the skin and muscles of the head

large veins that receive venous drainage from the subclavian, vertebral, and internal jugular veins to form the SVC

longest veins in the body, superficial drainage of the leg

formed by the union of external and internal iliac vein to form the

surfaces at the wrist is routinely used to take a pulse measurement

specific areas compressed to stop blood flow into distal tissues during significant blood loss or hemorrhage