Assignment Task: Anatomy & Physiology (McKinley, 4e)McGraw-Hill
Question 1: Explain the process of atherosclerosis and what you can do now to help prevent it.
Question 2: Discuss the physical differences of arteries, capillaries, and veins. What are the functions of the three tunics (intima, media, externa), and what is meant by the "lumen" of a vessel? What is the function of "anastomosing" vessels, especially those anastomoses found in capillary beds?
Question 3: Explain why arteries have much more muscle, rounded lumens, etc. Veins may have flap-like "valves" derived from the tunica intima. Why not "real valves"? Because the pressure is very low in veins, they are called "capacitance" vessels (at any given time they hold 2/3rds of the blood in the body). However, arteries are called "resistance" vessels. Discuss why veins are capacitance and arteries are resistance vessels. (internet research perhaps and cite resources on this question).
Question 4: What is the difference between elastic arteries, muscular arteries, and arterioles, as well as their functions?
Question 5: Define hypercholesterolemia and its risk factors (smoking, vascular injury, etc.). What are the current treatment options (e.g., angioplasty?). Also define aneurysms (are they always fatal?)
Question 6: Describe venous anastomosis and arteriovenous anastomosis, as well as what a portal system does. There are portal systems in the liver as well as between the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary of the brain. Why are portal circulation systems important?