Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)

Module #13 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

LESSON TITLE: BLOOD VESSELS AND CIRCULATION Materials:

LEARNING TARGETS:
Upon completion of this lesson, the nursing student can:
1. Locate major veins and arteries in models and charts;
2. Describe the circulatory pathways to and from major body
regions;
3. List the function of the Circulatory System; and
4. Describe the structure and function of veins and capillaries.
Book, pen and notebook
References:
VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A.
(2019). Seeley’s essentials of anatomy &
physiology (10th ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Education.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-a
p1/chapter/overview-of-anatomy-and-phy
siology

LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW (10 minutes)

Blood flow through the circulatory system is ensured by the pumping action of the heart. Give and describe the five
functions the circulatory system has:

MAIN LESSON (50 minutes)

GENERAL FEATURES OF BLOOD VESSEL STRUCTURE

From the capillaries, blood flows into veins.

Capillaries
● Blood flows from arterioles into capillaries.
● Capillaries branch to form networks (figure 13.3; see figure 13.1d).
● Blood flow through capillary networks is regulated by smooth muscle cells called precapillary sphincters.
● These precapillary sphincters are located at the origin of the branches of the capillaries and, by contracting and
relaxing, regulate the amount of blood flow through the various sections of the network.
● Capillary walls consist of endothelium, which is a layer of simple squamous epithelium surrounded by delicate
loose connective tissue.
● The thin walls of capillaries facilitate diffusion between the capillaries and surrounding cells.
● Each capillary is 0.5–1 millimeter (mm) long. Capillaries branch without changing their diameter, which is
approximately the same as the diameter of a red blood cell (7.5 µm).
● Red blood cells flow through most capillaries in single file and are frequently folded as they pass through the
smaller-diameter capillaries. As blood flows through capillaries, blood gives up O2 and nutrients to the tissue
spaces and takes up CO2 and other by-products of metabolism.
● Capillary networks are more numerous and more extensive in the lungs and in highly metabolic tissues, such as
the liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle, than in other tissue types.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet
Veins
● carry blood toward the heart; usually, the blood is deoxygenated (oxygen-poor).
● Compared to arteries, the walls of veins are thinner and contain less elastic tissue and fewer smooth muscle cells
(figure 13.1e–g).
● Starting at capillaries and proceeding toward the heart, small-diameter veins come together to form
larger-diameter veins, which are fewer in number.
● Veins increase in diameter and decrease in number as they progress toward the heart, and their walls increase in
thickness.
● Veins may be classified as venules, small veins, medium-sized veins, or large veins.

Veins
● Blood flows from capillaries into venules and from venules into small veins.
● Venules have a diameter slightly larger than that of capillaries and are composed of endothelium resting on a
delicate connective tissue layer (see figure 13.1e).
● The structure of venules, except for their diameter, is very similar to that of capillaries.
● Small veins are slightly larger in diameter than venules. All three tunics are present in small veins.
● The tunica media contains a continuous layer of smooth muscle cells, and the connective tissue of the tunica
adventitia surrounds the tunica media (see figure 13.1f).

Blood Flow, Pressure, and Resistance

The circulatory system is the continuous system of tubes that pumps blood to tissues and organs throughout the body.

Key Points
● The pulmonary circulatory system circulates deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary
artery and returns it to the heart via the pulmonary vein.
● The systemic circulatory system circulates oxygenated blood from the heart around the body into the tissues
before it is returned to the heart.
● The arteries divide into thin vessels called arterioles, which in turn divide into smaller capillaries that form a
network between the cells of the body. The capillaries then join up again to make veins that return the blood to the
heart.
● The flow of blood along arteries, arterioles and capillaries is not constant but can be controlled depending upon
the body’s requirements.
● Vascular resistance generated by the blood vessels must be overcome by blood pressure generated in the heart
to allow blood to flow through the circulatory system.

Key Terms
● vasodilation: The opening of a blood vessel.
● flow: The movement of blood around the body, closely controlled by alterations in resistance and pressure.
● vasoconstriction: The closing or tightening of a blood vessel.
● resistance: The resistance which must be overcome by pressure to maintain blood flow throughout the body.
● pressure: The force which overcomes resistance to maintain blood flow throughout the body.

❖ The circulatory system is the continuous system of tubes through which the blood is pumped around the body.
❖ It supplies the tissues with their nutritional requirements and removes waste products.
❖ The pulmonary circulatory system circulates deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs via the pulmonary
artery and returns it to the heart via the pulmonary vein.
❖ The systemic circulatory system circulates oxygenated blood from the heart around the body into the tissues
before returning deoxygenated blood to the heart.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet

Pulmonary circulation: Pulmonary circulation is the half of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygen-depleted blood
away from the heart to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart.

Resistance, Pressure and Flow

Three key factors influence blood circulation.

Resistance
● Resistance to flow must be overcome to push blood through the circulatory system.
● If resistance increases, either pressure must increase to maintain flow, or flow rate must reduce to maintain
pressure.
● Numerous factors can alter resistance, but the three most important are vessel length, vessel radius, and blood
viscosity.
● With increasing length, increasing viscosity, and decreasing radius, resistance is increased.
● The arterioles and capillary networks are the main regions of the circulatory system that generate resistance, due
the small caliber of their lumen.
● Arterioles in particular are able to rapidly alter resistance by altering their radius through vasodilation or
vasoconstriction.
The resistance offered by peripheral circulation is known as systemic vascular resistance (SVR), while the resistance
offered by the vasculature of the lungs is known as pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).

Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure that blood exerts on the wall of the blood vessels. The pressure originates in the
contraction of the heart, which forces blood out of the heart and into the blood vessels. If flow is impaired through
increased resistance then blood pressure must increase, so blood pressure is often used as a test for circulatory health.
Blood pressure can be modulated through altering cardiac activity, vasoconstriction, or vasodilation.

Blood Flow
Flow is the movement of the blood around the circulatory system. A relatively constant flow is required by the body’s
tissues, so pressure and resistance are altered to maintain this consistency. A too-high flow can damage blood vessels
and tissue, while flow that’s too low means tissues served by the blood vessel may not receive sufficient oxygen to
function.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet
What diseases affect the circulatory system?
There are many different circulatory system diseases all of which interrupt this complex process of distributing blood
around the body.

Diseases that can affect the circulatory system include:

1. Atherosclerosis
● hardening of the arteries.
● It is typically caused by a diet high in fat, which leaves fatty deposits on the lining of the blood vessels. These fatty
deposits stick together and make the arteries hard and less flexible.
● Atherosclerosis leads to high blood pressure, which can damage the heart and kidneys and even lead to strokes.
2. Heart attack
● Myocardial infarction (MI) is the technical term for a heart attack.
● A heart attack can occur when the blood supply is cut off from the heart, often by a blood clot.
● Some heart attacks are minor, but others can be life-threatening.
3. Mitral valve prolapse
● The mitral valve bulges out or prolapses because it does not close evenly.
● The mitral valve pumps freshly oxygenated blood out of the heart to the rest of the body.
4. Mitral valve regurgitation
● Mitral valve regurgitation happens when the mitral valve does not close all the way and causes a leak, allowing
some of the oxygenated blood to flow backward.
5. Mitral stenosis
● The mitral valve is abnormally narrow which can prevent the blood from flowing smoothly or quickly through it.
6. Angina pectoris
● Angina pectoris means “pain in the chest” and occurs if the heart is not receiving enough blood.
● People often describe it as a crushing sensation or feeling like their chest is in a vice.
● People with angina pectoris may also feel breathless, tired, and nauseated.
7. Arrhythmia and dysrhythmia
● Arrhythmia and dysrhythmia are often used interchangeably, and both refer to abnormal heart rates and rhythms.
● In general, arrhythmia means “no rhythm” and dysrhythmia means “abnormal rhythm.”
8. Cardiac Ischemia
● The heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen to function properly.
● A person with cardiac ischemia will usually experience angina-like pain and may feel as though they are having a
heart attack.
9. High cholesterol
● Usually caused by a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthful diet. Some people can also be genetically at risk of
high cholesterol.
● People need cholesterol, but too much cholesterol can form a thick layer on the inside of the vessels, blocking
blood flow.
10. Heart failure
● Heart failure means that the heart is not pumping blood around the body as efficiently as it should.
● It can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and coughing.
● Some people with heart failure find it difficult to do things such as walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries.
11. High blood pressure (hypertension)
● High blood pressure or hypertension means the force or pressure of the blood flowing through the vessels is
consistently too high.
● High blood pressure can lead to stroke, loss of vision, heart failure, heart attack, kidney disease, and reduced
sexual function.
12. Stroke
● A stroke can happen when one of the vessels that lead to the brain either becomes blocked by a blood clot or
bursts.
● This stops blood flow and prevents oxygen from getting to the brain.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet
13. Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
● Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to narrowing of the arteries that lead to the legs, stomach, arms, and head.
This reduced blood flow can damage the cells and tissues in the limbs, organs, and brain.
● PAD tends to occur more often in older people.
14. Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
● A blood clot that gets stuck in a vein, blocking the flow of blood.
● It is a serious condition that needs emergency medical attention.
15. Aortic aneurysms
● Aortic aneurysms affect the main artery in the body.
● It means the artery wall has weakened, allowing it to widen or “balloon out.”
● An enlarged artery could burst and become a medical emergency.

Can circulatory diseases be prevented?

While scientists do not know what causes all of these diseases, there are things that individuals can do to reduce the risk
of developing them.

❖ Many circulatory system diseases are linked to each other. For example, high blood pressure damages the blood
vessels, which can lead to other circulatory problems.
❖ The narrowing of blood vessels caused by high cholesterol increases the likelihood of a person getting a blood
clot.
❖ Being overweight or obese also increases the possibility of developing circulatory diseases. However, a healthful
diet and being active can reduce the risk.
❖ Regular exercise keeps the heart healthy by reducing the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and being
overweight — all of which are risk factors for circulatory diseases.
❖ People who have family members with a circulatory disease are more likely to develop one themselves. This risk,
however, can be reduced with a healthful lifestyle.

Does smoking increase the risk of circulatory diseases?

Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing circulatory diseases. Toxic substances in tobacco can narrow and
damage the blood vessels, increasing the risk of blood clots and causing poor circulation.
(Amanda Barrell, May 1, 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321695 )

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (20 minutes)

This will serve as a quiz for the students. 1 point is given to each correct answer and another point for the correct rationale
given per number. Superimpositions & erasures are not allowed.

ARTERIES OR VEINS?
The instructor will show a question or description to the class and let the students choose their answers from the box
below.

1. Vessels with narrow lumens

2. Vessels with thick muscular and elastic walls
3. Vessels that carry only oxygenated blood (except for pulmonary circulation)
4. Vessels with wide lumens
5. Vessels with thin but multiple cell layer thick walls
6. Vessels that contain valves
7. Vessels that collect blood from venules
8. Vessels with walls that are one cell thick
9. Vessels that allow gas exchange

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet
10. Vessels that receive blood from arterioles

MULTIPLE CHOICE:

1. What is the correct path through the circulatory system which describes the passage of blood originating in the left leg?
a. Vena cava → left atrium → left ventricle → lungs → right atrium → right ventricle → aorta
b. Vena cava → left atrium → right atrium → lungs → left ventricle → right ventricle → aorta
c. Vena cava → right atrium → right ventricle → lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta
d. Vena cava → right atrium → left atrium → lungs → right ventricle → left ventricle → aorta

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What causes blood pressure?

a. cholesterol in the blood c. stress that exercise puts on heart muscle
b. contraction of the ventricles in the heart d. removal of oxygen from the blood

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

3. The picture below shows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through a capillary wall.
This picture shows the exchange of gases between which two body systems?
a. circulatory and digestive
b. circulatory and respiratory
c. endocrine and circulatory
d. respiratory and endocrine

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

4. The picture below models a blood vessel carrying different components of blood. If human blood did not contain
component C, which function could you conclude the blood incapable of ?
a. clotting
b. fighting disease
c. carrying oxygen
d. having red color

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

5. The rate at which blood flows through the human body changes in response to many factors. Which statement
describes one of these factors and its effect on blood flow?
a. A high viscosity of blood causes an increased resistance in the blood vessels and leads to slow blood flow.
b. A low blood pH decreases the rate of diffusion through the blood vessels and leads to slow blood flow.
c. The changing of the shape of red blood cells to a crescent shape decreases resistance and lead to a faster blood
flow.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet
d. The narrowing of blood vessels increases pressure and leads to a faster blood flow.

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

FIND ME!
Encircle all words pertaining to the circulatory system.
Search” and give a short description of every word they found.

H C O M P L I A N C E I N I W A N A S A W I V H L

Y D U M I B S G P E R O S A W I H S H A H A I P O

P C O C O S C B G H Y P O V O L E M I A W R S M R

E C A F H N H S D Y H U L K O D F G H J B E C I W

R V B N M L E H F P A L G J T J G H J R J S O O J

V V E I I G M R A O Y S L H L A H A W R A I S I G

O G S D F B I M K X A E H J B F O Q G H Y S I T F

L F R U G H A D B I S G H J F V B W Y J V T T I G

E E E M W R Y U B A D H D H J E T T J R J A Y S R

M V O V O R H S D K G U D H G E K H D H J N K K H

I H D H D H J E O R D H N M R H G T H Y M C D S M

A C E V A S O C O N S T R I C T I O N K D E Q E M

D S P H Y G M O M A N O M E T E R G R A T D S D H

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #13 Student Activity Sheet

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY (DURING THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION WITH THE STUDENTS)
After the prescribed time, the correct answers and their respective rationale will be provided. You are encouraged to ask
questions if there are any.

AL Activity: The Muddiest Point

In today’s session, what was least clear to you?

________________________________________________________________________________________

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