Bio 204 4.2
1. Why is understanding the heart and circulation clinically important?: Because they
ensure delivery of oxygen and nutrients and removal of waste; heart disease is the leading cause of death and affects
both arteries and veins.
2. What is the main function of the heart?: To act as a dual pump that circulates blood through the
lungs and body.
3. What is pulmonary circulation?: Blood from the body is pumped from the right heart through the
lungs to pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
4. What is systemic circulation?: Oxygenated blood from the left heart is pumped to the rest of the body.
5. What is systolic pressure?: The peak arterial pressure during heart contraction (ventricular systole).
6. What is diastolic pressure?: The lowest arterial pressure just before the heart contracts again.
7. What causes the dicrotic notch in a pressure wave?: Closure of the aortic valve.
8. What does a high pulse amplitude indicate?: It may suggest arterial disease or valve problems,
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, not necessarily good health.
9. What are important characteristics to assess in a pulse?: Rate, rhythm, volume, and the
hardness of the artery.
10. What do arterioles regulate?: They regulate peripheral resistance and blood flow via sympathetic
innervation and local metabolic signals.
11. What causes arteriolar dilation in active muscles?: Local factors like low PO₂, high PCO₂,
acidity, and heat from muscle activity.
12. What controls blood flow through capillaries?: Precapillary sphincters and arterioles.
13. What happens at the capillary level?: Gas and nutrient exchange by diffusion; some protein leaks
into interstitial fluid and is returned by the lymphatic system.
14. What helps return blood to the heart through veins?: Valves, muscle contractions, and
changes in thoracic pressure during breathing.
15. Why should airplane passengers move around during long flights?: To increase
leg muscle contraction and venous return, reducing risk of deep vein thrombosis.
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1. Why is understanding the heart and circulation clinically important?: Because they
ensure delivery of oxygen and nutrients and removal of waste; heart disease is the leading cause of death and affects
both arteries and veins.
2. What is the main function of the heart?: To act as a dual pump that circulates blood through the
lungs and body.
3. What is pulmonary circulation?: Blood from the body is pumped from the right heart through the
lungs to pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
4. What is systemic circulation?: Oxygenated blood from the left heart is pumped to the rest of the body.
5. What is systolic pressure?: The peak arterial pressure during heart contraction (ventricular systole).
6. What is diastolic pressure?: The lowest arterial pressure just before the heart contracts again.
7. What causes the dicrotic notch in a pressure wave?: Closure of the aortic valve.
8. What does a high pulse amplitude indicate?: It may suggest arterial disease or valve problems,
1/2
, not necessarily good health.
9. What are important characteristics to assess in a pulse?: Rate, rhythm, volume, and the
hardness of the artery.
10. What do arterioles regulate?: They regulate peripheral resistance and blood flow via sympathetic
innervation and local metabolic signals.
11. What causes arteriolar dilation in active muscles?: Local factors like low PO₂, high PCO₂,
acidity, and heat from muscle activity.
12. What controls blood flow through capillaries?: Precapillary sphincters and arterioles.
13. What happens at the capillary level?: Gas and nutrient exchange by diffusion; some protein leaks
into interstitial fluid and is returned by the lymphatic system.
14. What helps return blood to the heart through veins?: Valves, muscle contractions, and
changes in thoracic pressure during breathing.
15. Why should airplane passengers move around during long flights?: To increase
leg muscle contraction and venous return, reducing risk of deep vein thrombosis.
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