1. Blood Pressure
Prof. K. Sivapalan
2013
Blood Pressure

2. Blood pressure.
Lateral pressure exerted by the blood on the vessel wall.
End pressure is more than lateral pressure because of the dynamic energy of flow.
Measurement: palpatory and auscultatory methods.
At the level of the heart.
Central venous pressure is measured by cardiac catheterization.
2013
Blood Pressure

3. Pressure – effect of gravity.
Arterial pressure is very high [120/80] and therefore blood flows against gravity.
Veins are low pressure [zero at sternal angle] system and affected by gravity.
Veins above heart are collapsed.
The negative pressure can suck air and cause air embolism when injured.
Bleeding from veins in dependant parts can be excessive and fatal [varicose veins].
2013
Blood Pressure

4. Blood pressure.
Pressure of the blood varies in different parts of the circulatory system.
The word “Blood Pressure” refers to the lateral pressure exerted by the blood on the arterial wall at the level of the heart.
It is maintained by,
Cardiac output and
Peripheral resistance.
2013
Blood Pressure

5. Factors that affect cardiac output.
Venous return.
Blood volume.
Veno-motor tone.
Respiratory pump.
Muscle pump.
Peripheral resistance.
Heart rate and force of contraction (end systolic volume).
Cardiac nerves.
Circulating catecholamines.
2013
Blood Pressure

6. Factors that affect peripheral resistance.
R = 8ηL / πr4.
Viscosity is constant [anaemia and polycythaemia].
Radius is influenced by several factors.
Smooth muscle tone.
Sympathetic tone.
Metabloits.
Temperature.
Hormones:
catecholamines, angeotension, histamine, 5 hydeoxy tryptamine, kinins.
2013
Blood Pressure

7. Regulation of blood pressure.
Physiological and pathological factors affect blood pressure.
It has to be brought back to normal levels by regulatory mechanisms.
Regulatory mechanisms are:
Nervous- baro receptor, vasomotor centre, sympathetics. [Immediate]
Hormonal- renin, angiotensin. [Mid term]
Volume- aldosteron and ADH.[Long term]
2013
Blood Pressure

8. Baroreceptors.
2013
Blood Pressure

9. Baroreceptors.
Baroreceptors are stretch receptors situated in carotid sinus and arch of the aorta.
Increase in pressure increase stretch and increase discharge of impulse.
Chronically changed pressure – reseting.
2013
Blood Pressure

10. Nervous regulation.
The centre for cardiovascular regulation is in the brain stem, mainly in medulla oblongata.
Named functionally as cardio inhibitory centre (CIC) and vaso motor centre (VMC).
Efferents from CIC go in 10th cranial nerve, vagus, to SA and AV nodes of the heart [acetyl choline].
Sympathetics from VMC innervate the nodes and myocardium [noradrenaline]
Stimulation causes chronotropic and ionotropic effects.
2013
Blood Pressure

11. Nervous regulation.
Sympathetics, in addition to heart, supply blood vessels and adrenal medulla.
Impulses cause vasoconstriction and secretion of adrenaline from adrenal medulla.
2013
Blood Pressure

12. Feed back regulation. - + + - + - - Increased blood pressure.
Blood pressure. reduced +
Baroreceptors. + -
Cardio Inhibitary Centre.
Vaso Motor Centre. + - -
Vasodilatation.
Reduce heart rate.
2013
Blood Pressure

13. Other factors influencing CIC.
Baro receptors: +
Thoracic volume receptors: +
Higher centers:--[excitement, anger] or ++[fear, grief].
Respiratory centre: - Insp, and + Exp.
Chemoreceptor: +.
Pain: +
Proprioceptors: -
2013
Blood Pressure

14. Other factors influencing VMC
Baroreceptor: -
Higher centers: + or –
Chemoreceptor: +
Hypoxia and hypercapnoea (direct); +
Respiratory centre: +[insp] or –[exp]
Pain: + or –
Proprioceptors: + [motor cortex +]
Distention of right atrium- +
Stretch of lungs: -
2013
Blood Pressure

15. Renal regulation of blood pressure.
Reduced pressure → release of renin from JGA → conversion of angiotensinogen → angeotensin I and to II. Vasoconstriction and increase in pressure.
Angeotensin → aldosteron → sodium retention.
ADH → water retention.
2013
Blood Pressure