A doctor tells her nursing students that it is important to monitor patients' blood pressure when they are receiving verapamil (a calcium channel blocker). Why?
Calcium channel blockers inhibit the movement of calcium ions from the interstitial fluid into cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This would cause a decrease in heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. These in turn would lower blood pressure. In addition, the calcium channel blockers would also inhibit contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of blood vessels, causing them to get wider and thus also lower blood pressure. Because both heart and smooth muscle cells are inhibited by verapamil, its effects on blood pressure are particularly potent.
You might also like to view...
Identify the muscular ridges that are found on the anterior wall of the right atrium and extend into the auricles
a) Pectinate muscles b) Trabeculae carneae c) Coronary sulci d) Papillary muscles e) Chordae tendinae
The ease with which the lungs can be expanded during breathing is called ________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
The ________ group of neurons contains mostly inspiratory neurons. The ________ group of neurons controls muscles used for active expiration and some inspiratory muscles.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
The loudness of sound is determined by the vibrations of the __________.
What will be an ideal response?