Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on blood pressure?
Blood pressure increases with increased cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, volume of blood, viscosity of blood and rigidity of vessel walls. Blood pressure decreases with decreased cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, volume of blood, viscosity of blood and elasticity of vessel walls.
What has the greatest impact on blood flow?
The variables affecting blood flow and blood pressure in the systemic circulation are cardiac output, compliance, blood volume, blood viscosity, and the length and diameter of the blood vessels. … In the arterial system, as resistance increases, blood pressure increases and flow decreases.
What has the greatest effect on blood viscosity?
Increasing red cell hematocrit increases relative viscosity. Note that the increase is non-linear; increased hematocrit causes a disproportionate increase in relative viscosity. Therefore, blood viscosity strongly depends on hematocrit. At a normal hematocrit of 40%, the relative viscosity of blood is about 4.
Which mechanism has the greatest compensatory effect?
Contractility had the greatest compensatory effect.
Which blood vessels experience the sharpest decrease in blood pressure?
The greatest drop in blood pressure occurs at the transition from arteries to arterioles. Primary function of each type of blood vessel: Arterioles have a very small diameter (<0.5 mm), a small lumen, and a relatively thick tunica media that is composed almost entirely of smooth muscle, with little elastic tissue.
Which blood vessels handle the highest blood pressure?
Arteries carry blood away from your heart. Arteries have thick walls so they can handle the high pressure and velocity that expels your blood out of your heart. Veins carry blood back to your heart from the rest of your body.
Does blood flow faster in arteries or veins?
Blood Flow
Blood flows in the same direction as the decreasing pressure gradient: arteries to capillaries to veins. The rate, or velocity, of blood flow varies inversely with the total cross-sectional area of the blood vessels. As the total cross-sectional area of the vessels increases, the velocity of flow decreases.
Where is blood pressure the highest?
Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.
What are some factors that will affect blood flow?
You need to know the factors that affect blood flow through the cardiovascular system: blood pressure, blood volume, resistance, disease and exercise. You need to know how these factors affect blood flow.
What has the greatest effect on peripheral resistance?
Peripheral resistance is determined by three factors: Autonomic activity: sympathetic activity constricts peripheral arteries. Pharmacologic agents: vasoconstrictor drugs increase resistance while vasodilator drugs decrease it. Blood viscosity: increased viscosity increases resistance.
Which variable had the strongest effect on fluid flow?
Viscosity has a greater effect on fluid flow than vessel radius.
Which of the following hormones will lower blood pressure?
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone secreted by the atria of the heart, lowers blood pressure by causing vasodilation and by stimulating the kidneys to excrete more water and Na +(lowering blood pressure by reducing blood volume). Nitric oxide (NO), secreted by endothelial cells, causes vasodilation.
Why pressure changes are not the best way to control blood flow?
Pressure changes are not the best way to control blood flow because it could place more stress on the heart (which causes the initial pressure) and requires the heart to change its force of contraction. The blood vessels need time to respond to that change in force as well as the large arteries around the heart.
Which is more likely to occur a change in blood vessel radius?
Which is more likely to occur, a change in blood vessel radius or a change in blood vessel length? Blood vessel radius is more likely to change because blood vessel length tends to stay pretty constant. … The longer the vessel length, the greater the resistance, therefore increasing the vessel length decreases flow rate.
What effect do you think aplastic anemia would have on blood flow?
What effect do you think aplastic anemia (reduced red blood cells) would have on blood flow? increased blood flow due to decreased viscosity.