Cardiovascular Physiology Exam Questions
with correct answers provided
name the key components of blood and their proportions - ✅✅formed elements (erythrocytes 45%,
leukocytes < 1%), cell fragments (platelets < 1%), plasma 55%
name and describe the key measure of blood composition. use in an example (M vs F) -
✅✅hematocrit: % of total blood volume comprised by erythrocytes (45% M, 42% F)
what are the main components of plasma? - ✅✅water (over 90%), ions, nutrients, wastes, gases,
hormones, proteins
what are the 3 types of plasma proteins? - ✅✅fibrinogen, albumins, globulins
what is serum? - ✅✅plasma with proteins removed
describe RBCs (where they are produced, the precursor cell, nucleus, organelles —>
ribosomes/mitochondria, functions, critical component, life span, replication, place of destruction, size,
shape, production requirements) - ✅✅produced in bone marrow from reticulocyte, no nucleus,
mitochondria, or ribosomes, carry oxygen and carbon dioxide, critical component = hemoglobin, 120
days, do not divide/reproduce, destroyed in spleen and liver —> bilirubin, 7um, biconcave disc shape,
require iron/folic acid/vitamin B12
what is hemoglobin? - ✅✅an iron containing protein that binds oxygen and carbon dioxide
what is the significance of the biconcave disc shape? - ✅✅increases surface area available for carrying
gases
what is erythropoiesis? - ✅✅production of RBCs
, describe the hormone that regulates RBC production (where its produced, mechanism, stimulus) -
✅✅erythropoietin: released by kidneys, stimulates RBC production in the bone marrow due to low
blood oxygen (—> low oxygen delivery to kidney)
true or false: erythropoietin is released at a similar rate that erythrocytes are broken down - ✅✅true
what types of factors lower blood oxygen? - ✅✅disease, prolonged exercise, high altitude
name and describe the 2 types of circulation - ✅✅pulmonary: oxygen poor blood from right ventricle
to lungs to left atrium
systemic: oxygen rich blood from left ventricle to body to right atrium
describe the aorta - ✅✅large (2.5 cm) elastic vessel that the LV pumps blood into
describe the pulmonary trunk - ✅✅a large artery that carries deoxygenated blood and divides into 2
pulmonary arteries destined for the lungs, RV pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk
describe conduit arteries - ✅✅smaller arteries that deliver blood to different systemic regions (ex.
femoral artery)
define microcirculation - ✅✅vessels that interact with organs, tissues, and cells —> series of
branching and progressively smaller arterioles
describe capillaries - ✅✅the key site of nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between blood and tissues
describe the vena cavas and pulmonary veins - ✅✅large veins = inferior/superior vena cava that
empty into the right atrium, pulmonary veins = carry oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium
what structure and phenomena are specifically important to ensuring the proper direction of blood flow
through the heart and circulation? - ✅✅cardiac valves + pressure gradient
with correct answers provided
name the key components of blood and their proportions - ✅✅formed elements (erythrocytes 45%,
leukocytes < 1%), cell fragments (platelets < 1%), plasma 55%
name and describe the key measure of blood composition. use in an example (M vs F) -
✅✅hematocrit: % of total blood volume comprised by erythrocytes (45% M, 42% F)
what are the main components of plasma? - ✅✅water (over 90%), ions, nutrients, wastes, gases,
hormones, proteins
what are the 3 types of plasma proteins? - ✅✅fibrinogen, albumins, globulins
what is serum? - ✅✅plasma with proteins removed
describe RBCs (where they are produced, the precursor cell, nucleus, organelles —>
ribosomes/mitochondria, functions, critical component, life span, replication, place of destruction, size,
shape, production requirements) - ✅✅produced in bone marrow from reticulocyte, no nucleus,
mitochondria, or ribosomes, carry oxygen and carbon dioxide, critical component = hemoglobin, 120
days, do not divide/reproduce, destroyed in spleen and liver —> bilirubin, 7um, biconcave disc shape,
require iron/folic acid/vitamin B12
what is hemoglobin? - ✅✅an iron containing protein that binds oxygen and carbon dioxide
what is the significance of the biconcave disc shape? - ✅✅increases surface area available for carrying
gases
what is erythropoiesis? - ✅✅production of RBCs
, describe the hormone that regulates RBC production (where its produced, mechanism, stimulus) -
✅✅erythropoietin: released by kidneys, stimulates RBC production in the bone marrow due to low
blood oxygen (—> low oxygen delivery to kidney)
true or false: erythropoietin is released at a similar rate that erythrocytes are broken down - ✅✅true
what types of factors lower blood oxygen? - ✅✅disease, prolonged exercise, high altitude
name and describe the 2 types of circulation - ✅✅pulmonary: oxygen poor blood from right ventricle
to lungs to left atrium
systemic: oxygen rich blood from left ventricle to body to right atrium
describe the aorta - ✅✅large (2.5 cm) elastic vessel that the LV pumps blood into
describe the pulmonary trunk - ✅✅a large artery that carries deoxygenated blood and divides into 2
pulmonary arteries destined for the lungs, RV pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk
describe conduit arteries - ✅✅smaller arteries that deliver blood to different systemic regions (ex.
femoral artery)
define microcirculation - ✅✅vessels that interact with organs, tissues, and cells —> series of
branching and progressively smaller arterioles
describe capillaries - ✅✅the key site of nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between blood and tissues
describe the vena cavas and pulmonary veins - ✅✅large veins = inferior/superior vena cava that
empty into the right atrium, pulmonary veins = carry oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium
what structure and phenomena are specifically important to ensuring the proper direction of blood flow
through the heart and circulation? - ✅✅cardiac valves + pressure gradient
