BIOS 255 Week 3 Lab-Blood Pressure/Blood Vessel Labeling

Grace J.
August 5, 2025August 5, 2025
BIOS-255, CU BSN

Student Name

Chamberlain University

BIOS-255: Anatomy & Physiology III with Lab

Prof. Name

Date

Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels

Learning Objectives

Identify the structural layers of arteries and veins
Compare and contrast the anatomical structure of arteries and veins
Explain the physiological factors that influence arterial blood flow and pressure
Define shock and recognize its clinical manifestations
Identify major blood vessels involved in cardiac, systemic, and pulmonary circulations

Introduction

The human circulatory system relies on a complex network of blood vessels—arteries, veins, and capillaries—to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body. Arteries and veins are composed of three concentric tissue layers, while capillaries have a single layer to facilitate the exchange of gases and nutrients. Blood flow and pressure are regulated by multiple mechanisms, including neural and hormonal control, as well as the physical properties of the vessels themselves. A disturbance in these mechanisms can lead to circulatory shock—a life-threatening condition. This lab allows students to explore cardiovascular pathways using interactive 3D models and trace the route of blood through both pulmonary and systemic circulations.

Assignment

Part 1: Anatomy.TV Lab Activities

Students must complete interactive activities located in the following sections of Anatomy.TV under the Cardiovascular System module:

Blood Vessels
Blood Flow and Pressure
Circulatory Pathways
Vessels of the Trunk
Vessels of the Head and Neck
Vessels of the Limbs

To access:
Resources tab > Library > Library Resources-Database A-Z > Anatomy.TV > Cardiovascular System > Assigned Sections

Record observations in a lab report as you complete each module.

Part 2: Blood Vessel Lab Report

1. Describe the different types of blood vessels by completing the following chart:

Blood Vessel	Histological Description / Special Characteristics	Function
Large arteries	Thick-walled vessels such as the aorta; composed of elastic fibers and smooth muscle	Transport oxygenated blood from the heart to various body regions
Medium arteries	Muscular arteries with more smooth muscle and fewer elastic fibers compared to large arteries	Distribute blood from large elastic arteries to arterioles
Arterioles	Narrow vessels with muscular walls; connect arteries to capillaries	Regulate blood flow into capillary beds via vasoconstriction or dilation
Capillaries	Composed of a single endothelial cell layer	Permit exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues
Medium veins	Veins with one-way valves and thinner walls than arteries; diameter about 1 cm	Return deoxygenated blood to the heart and prevent backflow
Large veins	Large diameter vessels with thick tunica externa; usually valve-less	Collect blood from smaller tributaries and return it to the heart

2. How does the cardiovascular center alter parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation of the sinoatrial (SA) node to maintain homeostasis when a fall in arterial pressure is detected by baroreceptors?

When baroreceptors detect a decline in arterial pressure, the cardiovascular center responds by reducing parasympathetic stimulation (via the vagus nerve) and enhancing sympathetic activity through cardiac accelerator nerves. This increases heart rate and cardiac output to help restore blood pressure.

3. Describe the signs and symptoms of shock.

Shock is a critical condition characterized by inadequate blood flow to tissues. Clinical signs include hypotension (low blood pressure), rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, cool and clammy skin, reduced urine output, confusion or altered mental state, intense thirst, and in severe cases, metabolic acidosis due to lactic acid buildup.

4. Identify the missing arteries from the schematic.

The missing arteries are:

Aortic arch
Right subclavian artery
Left vertebral artery
Right external carotid artery
Left internal carotid artery

5. Identify the missing arteries from the schematic.

These are repeated for emphasis or review:

Aortic arch
Right subclavian artery
Left vertebral artery
Right external carotid artery
Left internal carotid artery

6. Trace the pathway of a drop of blood from the heart to the top of the foot (dorsalis pedis artery):

Ascending aorta
Aortic arch
Thoracic aorta
Descending aorta
Common iliac artery (right or left)
Femoral artery
Popliteal artery
Anterior or posterior tibial artery
Dorsalis pedis artery

7. Trace the pathway of a drop of blood from the superior mesenteric vein to the right atrium:

Superior mesenteric vein
Hepatic portal vein
Liver
Hepatic vein
Inferior vena cava
Right atrium of the heart

8. Define the following terms:

a. Portal system:
A vascular arrangement in which blood passes through two capillary beds before returning to the heart. It enables substances absorbed in one organ to be modified or processed in another before entering systemic circulation.

b. Function of the hepatic portal system:
The hepatic portal system collects nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal organs and delivers it to the liver. Here, toxins are filtered, and nutrients are stored or metabolized before the blood re-enters general circulation.

Grading Rubric for Lab Report

Activity	Deliverable	Points
Part 1	Completion of lab activities	15
Part 2	Completion of lab report	15
Total	All sections completed	30

References

Hall, J. E., & Guyton, A. C. (2021). Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology (14th ed.). Elsevier.

Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2018). Human anatomy & physiology (11th ed.). Pearson.