Week 1 Pre Class Assignment

Week 1 Pre Class Assignment Arteries Describe the structure and function of arteries  The arteries are the blood vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. Each artery is a three-layered muscular tube with smooth tissue on the outside: The intima is the body's inner layer, which is bordered by a smooth tissue called endothelium. Define peripheral arterial disease (PAD)  It is primarily caused by the accumulation of fatty plaque in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. PAD can occur in any blood vessel, however, it occurs more frequently in the legs than in the arms. Describe the grading scale used to assess arterial pulses (0-3+)  The intensity of the pulse should be rated on a scale of 0 to 4 +, with 0 indicating no palpable pulse, 1 + showing a faint but noticeable pulse, 2 + indicating a somewhat less diminished pulse than normal, 3 + indicating a normal pulse, and 4 + indicating a bounding pulse.