blood flow,pressure,resistance

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0

Members don't see this ad.
"very strong sympathetic stimulation can constrict the vessels so much that bloodflow occasionally decreases to as low as zero for a few seconds DESPITE HIGH ARTERIAL PRESSURE" I found this phrase in Guyton's textbook
I don't understand how ..flow is directly proportional to pressure gradient pressure increses and resistance also increases here so why not flow is maintained constant?
thanks
 

rigid

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
131
Reaction score
52
the diameter of the lumen will eventually be so little that blood won't get through regardless of pressure.
 

Anastomoses

secretly an end artery
Removed
Joined
May 11, 2013
Messages
1,699
Reaction score
944
Arterial pressure is the pressure in your arteries in general. If sympathetic stimulation is constricting vessels...it can be working on specific localized areas. I don't know what the entire section says but I would assume it's talking about localized tissue. It doesn't just constrict vessels everywhere in the body all at the same time. So the flow would be zero at that constriction point - likely making the arterial pressure even higher.
 

Rothbard

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
277
Reaction score
1
It could be that blood flow is so low that the vessel collapses. This happens in the IVC at low pressures.
 

VisionaryTics

Señor Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
1,974
Reaction score
2,678
Flow = Pressure / Resistance

Increase in resistance decreases flow. Not rocket science here.
 

Rothbard

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
277
Reaction score
1
Flow = Pressure / Resistance

Increase in resistance decreases flow. Not rocket science here.

The equation you posted shows that flow will never drop to zero as long as you have a non-zero pressure difference.
 

Anastomoses

secretly an end artery
Removed
Joined
May 11, 2013
Messages
1,699
Reaction score
944
It will if the vessel is totally occluded, i.e. resistance = infinity.

I think Rothbard's point is that the OP has already made it clear that the book is stating something contrary to this equation and yet Visionary mindlessly posted that equation. Worries me when I see such oversights by people in medicine.
 

evilbooyaa

Full Member
Staff member
Volunteer Staff
10+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Messages
8,026
Reaction score
9,385
I think Rothbard's point is that the OP has already made it clear that the book is stating something contrary to this equation and yet Visionary mindlessly posted that equation. Worries me when I see such oversights by people in medicine.

.... Not at all. VT's equation explains OP's question perfectly.

If you increase pressure by a factor of x and resistance by a factor of x, then flow will maintain.

If you increase pressure by a factor of x and resistance by a factor of 1,000x, then flow will decrease extremely sharply.

The book states a high (meaning increased) arterial pressure. It doesn't state that the increase in arterial pressure = the increase in resistance. It seems to suggest that the increase in resistance > increase in arterial pressure.
 

VisionaryTics

Señor Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
1,974
Reaction score
2,678
I think Rothbard's point is that the OP has already made it clear that the book is stating something contrary to this equation and yet Visionary mindlessly posted that equation. Worries me when I see such oversights by people in medicine.

:laugh:

-edit- Also, OP didn't ask "why isn't flow a low but non-zero number?" He wondered why flow didn't stay constant with high arterial pressure and vascoconstriction.

It worries me when I see such oversights by people in medicine.
 

Raryn

Infernal Internist / Enigmatic Endocrinologist
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2008
Messages
8,766
Reaction score
8,957
:laugh:

-edit- Also, OP didn't ask "why isn't flow a low but non-zero number?" He wondered why flow didn't stay constant with high arterial pressure and vascoconstriction.

It worries me when I see such oversights by people in medicine.
I don't understand the controversy. All those equations are assuming ideal flow, but RBCs aren't point particles and blood vessels aren't perfectly round tubes that can get to any arbitrary diameter. Eventually the vessel constricts to a point where it either collapses or a RBC can't fit through it anymore. Or one of the many other gazillions of explanations of how our flow is not "ideal".
 

DrSnips

Hospitalist
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Messages
575
Reaction score
690
I don't understand the controversy. All those equations are assuming ideal flow, but RBCs aren't point particles and blood vessels aren't perfectly round tubes that can get to any arbitrary diameter. Eventually the vessel constricts to a point where it either collapses or a RBC can't fit through it anymore. Or one of the many other gazillions of explanations of how our flow is not "ideal".

Exactly. I've come up with a model, but it only works for a spherical chicken in a vacuum.
 
Members don't see this ad :)

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
Flow = Pressure / Resistance

Increase in resistance decreases flow. Not rocket science here.
I know. but also increased resistance increases pressure as well which in turn increases flow
 

HatWobble

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
342
Reaction score
80
I know. but also increased resistance increases pressure as well which in turn increases flow

It says "despite high pressure", not "despite increasing pressure". The blood pressure is not increasing.

Pressure stay same. Resistance go up. Flow go down. :prof:
 

Little Soldier

Full Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
mate, when they refer to pressure they refer arterial pressure or aortic (typically). this does not mean pressure in the capillaries. if you can imagine the capillaries constricting, blood flow into them from the arteries will go down even though their pressure is high. increased blood pressure does not CAUSE increased blood flow. increased blood flow CAUSES increased blood pressure. this means in the capillaries, increased resistance increases pressure if flow remains the same, however since they are constricting, blood flow decreases, this decreases its blood pressure.
 

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
It says "despite high pressure", not "despite increasing pressure". The blood pressure is not increasing.

Pressure stay same. Resistance go up. Flow go down.

why pressure stays same?I don't think so...increasing resistance increases pressure


increased blood pressure does not CAUSE increased blood flow
whynot?F=P/R

let's generalize my question guys because I'm getting confused
In general,what is the effect of vasoconstriction or vasodilatation on blood flow?here I'm not talking about this great constriction which decreases the diameter to an extent that blood can't pass
 

HatWobble

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
342
Reaction score
80
increasing resistance increases pressure

No. Increasing resistance increases pressure drop over the arteriole.

In general,what is the effect of vasoconstriction or vasodilatation on blood flow?

When the arteriole constricts:
  • Pressure at the aorta side of the arteriole does not change
  • Pressure at the capillary side of the arteriole decreases
  • Flow decreases.

This is really basic stuff. You might want to seek out a tutor if this is giving you that much difficulty.
 

TheMedLife

New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
10
Reaction score
2
why pressure stays same?I don't think so...increasing resistance increases pressure



whynot?F=P/R

let's generalize my question guys because I'm getting confused
In general,what is the effect of vasoconstriction or vasodilatation on blood flow?here I'm not talking about this great constriction which decreases the diameter to an extent that blood can't pass

Christ do you even read your questions before you post them? The least you could do is make them legible...
 

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
When the arteriole constricts:

Pressure at the aorta side of the arteriole does not change
that's not true.when an arteriole constricts, TPR increases which increases pressure in big vessels this is according to Guyton and it seems logical to me
actually I wish I can understand this well do you have any article which can help me?
thank you guys
 

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
sometimes you tell me pressure stays the same other times you tell me pressure decreases
that's confusing
 

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
guys I've come up with this conclusion :
VC in arterioles will increase resistance to flow , so more blood will flow to large arteries ,this increases pressure in large arteries while pressure in arterioles remains the same (since increased resistance makes blood flow to large arteries and decreases the amount of blood in arterioles)..accordingly blood flow to the organ decreases..
Is this true?
 

SamarEsawy

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
are you sure that I get it right?does pressure in arterioles decreases or remains the same?
 

Anastomoses

secretly an end artery
Removed
Joined
May 11, 2013
Messages
1,699
Reaction score
944
I don't even understand what you're asking anymore.
 

TBV

Membership Revoked
Removed
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
1,098
Reaction score
2,109
1eovxgh.jpg
 
Top