PSL301H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Vascular Smooth Muscle, Tunica Media, Heart

• School: UTSG
• Department: Physiology
• Course: PSL301H1
• Professor: French, Gramolini, Richardson, Wong

Document Summary

Lecture 5: cardiovascular system cardiac action potential. Functional model of the cardiovascular system: the heart can be viewed as two independent pumps. The right heart pumps blood to the lungs and back to the left heart. Blood vessels contain vascular smooth muscle: the smooth muscle of blood vessels is known as vascular smooth muscle. Arteries and arterioles carry blood away from the heart. In general, arteries are characterized by a thick smooth muscle layer (tunica media) and large amounts of elastic and fibrous connective tissue: three groups of arteries. Elastic arteries arteries with the most elastin in the tunica media; closest to the heart; expands during systole elastic recoils during diastole propel blood onward. Muscular arteries arteries with the most smooth muscle in the tunica media, enabling it to constrict and relax; deliver blood to specific body organs. Arterioles smallest type of artery, contain several layers of smooth muscle that contract and relax under the influence of chemical signals.