Explain four factors that can alter central venous pressure: I have listed 6, as

Question

Explain four factors that can alter central venous pressure: I have listed 6, as I am having issues grouping these as there is so much overlap.

1 Cardiac Output:

2. Vascular Resistance:

3. Sympathetic Input:

4. Blood Volume:

5. Contraction Of Muscles (muscle pump):

6. Gravitational Forces:

Should vascular resistance be its own category of within cardiac output?/blood volume? Should skeletal muscle pump be included in gravitational forces?

I am unsure if it's appropriate to just explain each factor individually without overexplaining their interconnectedness? Example of interconnectedness= As a result of gravitational forces (moving from laying down to standing): cardiac output, vascular resistace, contraction of skeletal muscles, and sympathetic input are all affected. Am I making this too complicated?

Explanation / Answer

To understand the factors affecting central venous pressure (CVP), we need to understand the CVP first.

Central venous pressure is the pressure which is present in the venae cavae (large two veins which bring back blood from whole body to heart) near right atrium. It shows quantity of blood returning from body to the right atrium and it also exhibit the ability of heart to pump back the blood to the body. So, central venous pressure is very essential to maintain the systemic circulation of blood in the body.

There are many factors affects this venous pressure. Lets understand them.

1) Cardiac Output: This is inversely proportional to central venous pressure. Means, When cardiac output decreases, venous pressure increase.

2) Vascular Resistance: As central venous pressure increase, the cardio pulmonary baroreflexes acts as an indiacator and decreses the vascular resistence. It means, these both are inversely proportional to maintain the systemic blood circulation. As one increses, the other one decreses.

3) Sympathetic Input: Sympethetic nerve stimuation results into constrictions of veins. Because of which the increase in the venous pressure takes place.

4) Blood volume: More blood volume leads to increased central venous pressure. Less blood volume, decreses the venous pressure. They are propotional to each other.

Vascular resistance, cardiac output and blood volume, all three are different category and hence studying these factors indenpendently will help understand better.

Example provided is "As a result of gravitational forces (moving from laying down to standing): cardiac output, vascular resistace, contraction of skeletal muscles, and sympathetic input are all affected."

You are not making it complicated but understanding the reaction of each factors in systemic way. Its recommended and beneficial as well.

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