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In Vitro Model of Physiological and Pathological Blood Flow with Application to Investigations of Vascular Cell Remodeling
Published on: November 3, 2015
Pipe Cleaners as a Low-Cost and Versatile Educational Tool for Teaching Vascular Anatomy
1The Medical School, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX UK.
Medical Science Educator
|August 30, 2021
Abstract:
Teaching and learning vascular anatomy can be challenging for both educators and students. Cadaveric vasculature is difficult to visualise whilst models are costly and fixed in position. This paper proposes the use of pipe cleaners as a low-cost and versatile educational tool for use by both anatomy educators and students.
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02:03Anatomy of the Circulatory System
The human circulatory system consists of blood, blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, around the body, and back to the heart, and the heart itself, which acts as a central pump. The systemic circuit supplies blood to the whole body, the coronary circuit supplies blood to the heart, and the pulmonary circuit supplies blood flow between the heart and lungs.
01:29Blood Flow
Blood is pumped by the heart into the aorta, the largest artery in the body, and then into increasingly smaller arteries, arterioles, and capillaries. The velocity of blood flow decreases with increased cross-sectional blood vessel area. As blood returns to the heart through venules and veins, its velocity increases. The movement of blood is encouraged by smooth muscle in the vessel walls, the movement of skeletal muscle surrounding the vessels, and one-way valves that prevent backflow.