Question

Covid-19 patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are at a significant risk. How does blood pressure and flow change through systemic circulation from the left to right atria?

and how is homeostatis maintained?

Answer 1

The heart pumps oxygenated blood out of the left ventricle and into the aorta to begin systemic circulation.

After the blood has supplied cells throughout the body with oxygen and nutrients, it returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium of the heart.

The deoxygenated blood shoots down from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

The heart then pumps it out of the right ventricle and into the pulmonary arteries to begin pulmonary circulation.

The blood moves to the lungs, exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen, and returns to the left atrium.

The oxygenated blood shoots from the left atrium to the left ventricle below, to begin systemic circulation again.

Blood pressure in veins is much lower than that in arteries because veins are farther along in the circulatory pathway. Hence, veins need extra measures to force blood back to the heart.

Blood pressure is highest as its leaves the heart through the aorta and gradually decreases as it enters smaller and smaller blood vessels (arteries, arterioles, and capillaries).

Blood vessels such as arteries, veins, and capillaries can dilate and constrict to help the body maintain homeostasis. When sensors in the body detect an increase in core temperature, vessels dilate to allow more blood to pass through them which releases the excess heat.