Circulatory and Lymphatic Physiology
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Anatomy › Circulatory and Lymphatic Physiology
What type of cells are found wrapped around the endothelial cells of capillaries?
Pericytes (Rouget cells)
Monocytes
Purkinje fibers
Schwann cells
None of these
Explanation
Pericytes, sometimes referred to as Rouget cells, are cells that wrap around the endothelial cells of capillaries. These cells play an important role in angiogenesis, the process of formation of new blood vessels. Monocytes are macrophages of the immune system, Purkinje fibers are found in the heart, and allow conductance of electricity to the cardiomyocytes, Schwann cells are glial cells in the peripheral nervous system that myelinate axons.
What in one defining characteristic of veins?
They carry blood from capillaries to the heart
They carry blood from the heart to the capillaries
They carry deoxygenated blood from capillaries to the heart
They carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the capillaries
They have a muscular layer allowing them to expand and contract, thus regulating blood pressure
Explanation
Veins always carry blood towards the heart. The blood in veins is mostly deoxygenated, however the pulmonary vein, which goes from the lungs to the left atrium, carries newly oxygenated blood back to the heart for it to be pumped to the rest of the body.
In contrast, arteries always travel away from the heart and usually carry oxygenated blood, with the exception of the pulmonary arteries. Arteries and arterioles have a thick layer of smooth muscle that helps to regulate blood pressure. Veins may have some smooth muscle, but are not nearly as significant in helping to regulate blood flow.
Which of the following could be described as "strong elastic vessels that carry blood moving away from the heart"?
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Venules
Ducts
Explanation
Arteries are strong elastic vessels that carry blood moving away from the heart. As arteries move away from the heart they become smaller (think of a tree and its branches, the trunk is larger than the branches and as each branch grows out it becomes smaller) and are referred to as arterioles, which connect to capillaries. Capillaries penetrate nearly all tissue; their walls are very thin and allow exchange of materials (oxygen, nutrients) between blood and tissues. Veins are thinner-walled and less muscular. The smallest ones are called venules and connect to capillaries.
Which limb lead will give the best view of atrial depolarization?
Lead II
Lead I
Lead III
Augmented vector right (aVR)
Augmented vector left (aVL)
Explanation
Lead II is the limb lead that will show the best view of atrial depolarization. Remember, atrial depolarization starts at the sinoatrial node in the right atrium and spreads through the right and left atria. If you were to draw this on a heart, the net vector would be down (inferiorly) and to the left side of the heart. Also remember, lead II is the lead configuration that runs from the right arm to the left leg. aVR would show a good view of atrial depolarization (although it would be a negative deflection), but it is an augmented lead, not a limb lead. aVL is also an augmented lead.
Which of the following correctly describes systole and diastole?
During diastole the atria contract and the ventricles are filling. During systole the ventricles contract and the atria are relaxed and filling
During diastole the ventricles contract and the atria are filling. During systole the atria contract and the ventricles are relaxed and filling
None of these
All chambers are relaxed during diastole and all chambers contract during systole
The left and atrium and ventricle are relaxed during diastole, while the right atrium and ventricle are contracting during systole
Explanation
The heart has four chambers. During diastole the atria contract to push blood into the ventricles, which are relaxed, but during systole the atria relax to fill with blood while the ventricles contract. This alternating contraction moves blood through the heart, the pulmonary circulatory path, and eventually out of the heart.
When the atria contract during diastole, blood is moving into the right ventricle and also into the left ventricle. During systole when the ventricles contract, blood is moving from the right ventricle towards the pulmonary circuit and from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
On an EKG, which recording represents atrial depolarization?
P wave
T wave
QRS complex
U wave
X wave
Explanation
The P wave represents atrial depolarization. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, the T wave represents repolarization, and the U wave (if present) represents late ventricular repolarization (e.g. repolarization of bundle branches). There are no X waves on an EKG.
What in one defining characteristic of veins?
They carry blood from capillaries to the heart
They carry blood from the heart to the capillaries
They carry deoxygenated blood from capillaries to the heart
They carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the capillaries
They have a muscular layer allowing them to expand and contract, thus regulating blood pressure
Explanation
Veins always carry blood towards the heart. The blood in veins is mostly deoxygenated, however the pulmonary vein, which goes from the lungs to the left atrium, carries newly oxygenated blood back to the heart for it to be pumped to the rest of the body.
In contrast, arteries always travel away from the heart and usually carry oxygenated blood, with the exception of the pulmonary arteries. Arteries and arterioles have a thick layer of smooth muscle that helps to regulate blood pressure. Veins may have some smooth muscle, but are not nearly as significant in helping to regulate blood flow.
Which of the following could be described as "strong elastic vessels that carry blood moving away from the heart"?
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Venules
Ducts
Explanation
Arteries are strong elastic vessels that carry blood moving away from the heart. As arteries move away from the heart they become smaller (think of a tree and its branches, the trunk is larger than the branches and as each branch grows out it becomes smaller) and are referred to as arterioles, which connect to capillaries. Capillaries penetrate nearly all tissue; their walls are very thin and allow exchange of materials (oxygen, nutrients) between blood and tissues. Veins are thinner-walled and less muscular. The smallest ones are called venules and connect to capillaries.
What type of cells are found wrapped around the endothelial cells of capillaries?
Pericytes (Rouget cells)
Monocytes
Purkinje fibers
Schwann cells
None of these
Explanation
Pericytes, sometimes referred to as Rouget cells, are cells that wrap around the endothelial cells of capillaries. These cells play an important role in angiogenesis, the process of formation of new blood vessels. Monocytes are macrophages of the immune system, Purkinje fibers are found in the heart, and allow conductance of electricity to the cardiomyocytes, Schwann cells are glial cells in the peripheral nervous system that myelinate axons.
Which of the following correctly describes systole and diastole?
During diastole the atria contract and the ventricles are filling. During systole the ventricles contract and the atria are relaxed and filling
During diastole the ventricles contract and the atria are filling. During systole the atria contract and the ventricles are relaxed and filling
None of these
All chambers are relaxed during diastole and all chambers contract during systole
The left and atrium and ventricle are relaxed during diastole, while the right atrium and ventricle are contracting during systole
Explanation
The heart has four chambers. During diastole the atria contract to push blood into the ventricles, which are relaxed, but during systole the atria relax to fill with blood while the ventricles contract. This alternating contraction moves blood through the heart, the pulmonary circulatory path, and eventually out of the heart.
When the atria contract during diastole, blood is moving into the right ventricle and also into the left ventricle. During systole when the ventricles contract, blood is moving from the right ventricle towards the pulmonary circuit and from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.