HUBS192 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Pulmonary Valve, Pulmonary Vein, Pulmonary Circulation

• School: University of Otago
• Department: Human Body Systems
• Course: HUBS192
• Professor: Greg Jones

Document Summary

The need to circulate blood: diffusion vs. advection. Circulation is vital; the only means by which cells can receive materials needed for survival and have their wastes removed more active cells need more blood per minute than less active cells (greater volume of blood/min) Acquire oxygen and transport it to cells around our body; body needs oxygen to function. Advection: movement of materials through fluid/liquid form; active pumping of materials around. Diffusion: passive movement from high conc. to low conc. effective across very small distances e. g. nmj: tiny space; diffusion happens very fast! Capillary wall and cell to capillary (e. g. from rbc to capillary wall); very rapid diffusion (diffusion is sufficient, no need to transport oxygen actively using energy for this) However, for skin and ventricular wall (while not very thick, takes very long! ); diffusion insufficient, need active pumping using cardiovascular system.