Question

Common side effects for someone experiencing shock include: a weak pulse, pale skin, cool skin, and tachycardia. Explain the physiological basis for each of these signs.

2. Why is it advantageous to have baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus rather than in some other location?

3. It is a common untrained assumption that systolic blood pressure should be 100 plus a person's age. Discuss the validity of this statement.

Answer 1

1) The pale skin and cool skin are due to the reduced perfusion or the movement of fluid through the circulatory system slowing down. The tachycardia or drop in blood pressure encourages the baroreceptors to activate which through the medulla oblongata sends signals (called cardioaccelatory signals) to the heart to increase heart rates. The weak pulse is caused by the low blood pressure.

2) Proper or high blood pressure in the iliac arteries or lower points doesn't mean that the blood pressure is high or adequate within the body since blood draws downwards due to gravity. However, when the blood pressure is proper or high above the heart, then in most cases this means that in the lower limbs and the brain are properly perfused or have a good supply of fluid.

3) The problem with this assumption doesn't take into consideration gender when determining the differences in normal blood pressure and it also doesn't take into consideration other health problems that may affect a person's systolic blood pressure.