PERIPHERAL

CIRCULATION
ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY

Considerations in
Accurate Venipuncture:
* Understanding of anatomy and physiology
of the skin and venous system is
important;
* Familiarization of the physiologic response
of vein to heat, cold, and stress; and
* Knowledge in skin thickness and
consistency at various sites.

Sensory receptors

There are five types of sensory

receptors, four of which affect
parenteral therapy.

The sensory receptors transmit

along fibers. Many types of
stimulation, such as heat, light,
cold, pressure, and sound are
processed along sensory
receptors.

Sensory receptors related

to parenteral therapy
include:
1. Mechanoreceptor
(palpitation of veins)
2. Thermoreceptor
(application of heat or cold)
3. Nocireceptor
(processed pain during puncture)
4. Chemoreceptor
(decreased circulating blood
volume)

The Vessels
and Circulation

Three kinds of blood vessels exist in the

human body:
arteries, veins, and capillaries.
This intricate system travels to every
inch of the human body through
repeatedly branching vessel that get
smaller and smaller as they move
away from the heart (arteries), and
then larger as they return toward

Comparison of Arteries, Veins, and

Capillaries

ANATOMY
and PHYSIOLOGY

ARTERY

BRINGS OXYGENATED
BLOOD
TO TISSUES; BRIGHT RED
IN COLOR
THICK-WALLED (ADVENTITIA,
MEDIA, INTIMA)

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
the hardening of arteries/arterial
walls because of cholesterol or
calcium deposits (plaque)
blood clots may form that clog
the artery further and blood supply
to tissue is reduced, resulting to
stroke or heart attack

VEINS
BRINGS DEOXYGENATED

BLOOD
TO THE HEART; DARK RED IN
COLOR

THIN-WALLED, COMPLIANT
CIRCULATORY PRELOAD

CAPILLARIES
TINY MICROSCOPIC VESSELS THAT
CONNECT ARTERIES AND VEINS
SMALL DIAMETER ALLOWING ONLY
ONE BLOOD CELL TO PASS THROUGH
AT A TIME
THIN WALLS PERMIT EXCHANGE OF
GASES AND MOLECULES BETWEEN
BLOOD AND SURROUNDING TISSUE

STRUCTURE OF THE BLOOD

VESSELS
THREE COATS OR TUNICS

1.TUNICA INTIMA
.lines the lumen or interior of
the vessels
.thin layer of endothelium
resting on a basement
membrane
.the cells fit closely together and
form a slick surface that

2. TUNICA MEDIA

bulky middle coat

mostly smooth muscle and
elastic tissue
smooth muscle is controlled by
the sympathetic nervous
system and is active in
changing the diameter of the
vessel
as the vessels constrict or

3. TUNICA EXTERNA

outermost tunic
compose largely of fibrous
connective tissue
function to support and protect
the vessels

Comparison between Arteries and Veins

Arteries

Veins

Transport blood away from the

heart;

Transport blood towards the

heart;

Carry Oxygenated Blood

(except in the case of the
Pulmonary Artery);

Carry De-oxygenated Blood

(except in the case of the
Pulmonary Vein);

Have relatively narrow lumens;

Have relatively wide lumens;

Have relatively more

muscle/elastic tissue;

Have relatively less

muscle/elastic tissue;

Transports blood under higher

pressure (than veins);

Transports blood under lower

pressure (than arteries);

Do not have valves (except for

the semi-lunar valves of the
pulmonary artery and the
aorta).

Have valves throughout the

main veins of the body. These
are to prevent blood flowing in
the wrong direction, as this
could (in theory) return waste
materials to the tissues.

EXTERNAL BLEEDING
ARTERIAL BLEEDING
bright red in color due to high oxygen
content
since pressure is higher, bleeding is
quicker, more abundant and in spurts
the hardest to control

VENOUS BLEEDING
dark red in color due to lack of oxygen
bleeding occurs in steady flow
easy to stop because pressure is lower

CAPILLARY BLEEDING
occurs slowly and evenly because of
the small size of the vessel
considered minor and is easily
controlled with slight pressure

Superfici
al Vein
of
the
Hand
(Dorsal)