Circulatory System

Blood flows through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins in a closed, continuous circuit. Flow is the movement of volume per unit of time. Flow is affected by the pressure gradient and the resistance fluid encounters between 2 points. Vascular resistance is the opposition to flow, which is caused primarily by blood friction against vessel walls. Vascular resistance is directly related to the diameter of the vessel (smaller vessels have higher resistance). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is the average systemic arterial pressure and is directly related to cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The SVR and MAP are affected by the vascular anatomy as well as a number of local and neurohumoral factors.

Hemostasis refers to the innate, stepwise body processes that occur following vessel injury, resulting in clot formation and cessation of bleeding. Hemostasis occurs in 2 phases, namely, primary and secondary. Primary hemostasis involves platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation to the damaged vascular endothelium, forming a plug that stops the bleeding temporarily. Secondary hemostasis involves the activation of the coagulation cascade resulting in the formation of a more stable plug. Finally, as the vasculature is repaired, the clot is broken down in the fibrinolytic phase.