1. In a patient who has a small dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, what is the rationale for giving a drug that will reduce cardiac output?
2. Why would a patient with a normal cardiac output and a normal total peripheral resistance (TPR), but with generalized atherosclerosis, require a greater coronary blood flow than would a patient with a normal arterial system?
3. A 20-year-old and a 70-yer-old person each had the same cardiac output, heart rate, and TPR under basal conditions. Assume that a vasoconstrictor drug was given to each person, and that it increased their TPR identically by 50%, but did not affect their cardiac output or heart rate. What changes in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures would you expect in each of these subjects?
4. What happens to the distribution of right ventricular output when the newborn infant takes his or her first few breaths?
5. What are the major compensatory responses to blood loss?
6. Calculate the mean arterial pressure (MAO) and pulse pressure for a person with a blood pressure of 115/73.
7. Left ventricular failure may be accompanied by edema, shortness of breath, and increased venous pressure. Explain how these symptoms develop.
8. If the left ventricle fails to pump normally, blood will back up into what set of blood vessels? Where you would expect edema to occur?
9. Drugs known as calcium channel blockers prevent Ca++ movement through Ca++ channels. Explain two ways that this action can lower blood pressure. Why are neurons and other cells unaffected by these drugs?
10. Why are people with high blood pressure at higher risk for having hemorrhagic stroke?
11. Why would blocking the action of a vasoconstriction lower blood pressure?
12. What is the rationale for reducing salt intake to control hypertension?