THE MECHANISMS OF PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY FAILURE
Authors: Carl J. Wiggers
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1941)

Article1 August 1941THE MECHANISMS OF PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY FAILURECARL J. WIGGERS, M.D., D.SC., F.A.C.P.CARL J. WIGGERS, M.D., D.SC., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-15-2-178 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptORIENTATIONThe capillaries constitute the keystone of the circulation, in the sense that maintenance of an adequate capillary flow is essential for the proper exchange of respiratory gases, electrolytes and water, foodstuffs and waste products. The rate of capillary blood flow is regulated (figure 1) by the pressure in the small supplying artery (A), by the size of muscular arterioles (B), possibly by active changes in size of capillaries (C), by pressure of surrounding tissues (D), by the pressure in the small venules (E), and by the viscosity of the blood itself.Circulatory failure, in its broadest sense, develops whenever...References1. ZWEIFACH BW: Structures and reactions of small blood vessels in Amphibia, Am. Jr. Anat., 1937, lx, 473. ZWEIFACH, B. W.: Character and distribution of blood capillaries, Anat. Rec., 1939, lxxiii, 475. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. STARLING EH: Surgical shock, Arch. méd. belges, 1918, lxxi, 369. Google Scholar3. HENDERSON Y: Volume of circulation and its regulation by venopressor mechanism, Jr. Am. Med. Assoc., 1931, xcvii, 1265. HENDERSON, Y.: Muscle tonus, intramuscular pressure and venopressor mechanism, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1936, cxiv, 261. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. BARTLETT W: An experimental study of the arteries in shock, Jr. Exper. Med., 1912, xv, 415. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. MORRISONHOOKER RADR: Vascular tone and the distribution of the blood in surgical shock, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1915, xxxvii, 86. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. PENFIELD WG: Treatment of severe and progressive hemorrhage by intravenous injection, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1919, xlviii, 121. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. FORWARDPERME DDLJ: Changes in total peripheral resistance during experimental shock, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. and Med., 1922, xix, 190. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. ERLANGERGESELLGASSER JRHS: Studies in secondary traumatic shock. I. Circulation in shock after abdominal injuries, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1919, xlix, 90. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. PILCHERSOLLMANN JDT: Studies on the vasomotor center: The effects of hemorrhage and reinjection of blood and saline solution, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1914, xxxv, 59. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. GESELL R: Studies on the submaxillary gland. IV. Comparison of the effects of hemorrhage and of tissue-abuse in relation to secondary shock, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1918, xlvii, 468. Google Scholar11. CATTELL M quoted by CANNON, W. B.: Traumatic shock, 1923, Appleton Co., New York, p. 20. Google Scholar12. DINGLEKENTWILLIAMSWIGGERS JTGTLLCJ: Study of alleged quantitative criteria of vasomotor action, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1940, cxxx, 63. CrossrefGoogle Scholar13. FREEMAN NE: Decrease in blood volume after prolonged hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and sympathectomy on the plasma volume of the cat, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1933, ciii, 185. Google Scholar14. HAMLINGREGERSEN EMI: The effect of adrenaline, nembutal and sympathectomy on the plasma volume of the cat, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1939, cxxv, 713. CrossrefGoogle Scholar15. MAURER FW: Effects of decreased blood oxygen and increased blood carbon dioxide on the flow and composition of cervical and cardiac lymph, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1940, cxxxi, 331. CrossrefGoogle Scholar16. WIGGERS CJ: Shock and circulatory failure following trauma, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1918, xlvi, 314. CrossrefGoogle Scholar17. WERLECOSBY JMRS: Initiation of shock through loss of blood or plasma, Am. Jr. Physiol., 1941, cxxxiii, 299. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Cleveland, Ohio*Morning lecture presented before the American College of Physicians, Boston, April 22, 1941.From the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe Effect of the Infusion of Dextraven Solution on the Blood Pressure During Circulatory Imbalance of Hæmorrhagic Origin in the DogThe Use of Desiccated Plasma in Urology 1 August 1941Volume 15, Issue 2Page: 178-189KeywordsArteriesArteriolesBlood flowCapillariesSaltsVenules ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1941 PDF downloadLoading ...