MCAT Question A Day - 8/10/14 - Answer!
The capillary network comprises the greatest cross sectional area of blood vessels in the body with the highest resistance to blood flow. In a healthy individual, the highest blood pressure would most likely be found in:
A. the aorta
B. the vena cavae
C. the systemic capillaries
D. the pulmonary capillaries
A is correct. Don't let the not-so-subtle physics reference fool you. Bernoulli's equation, which would indicate a greater pressure at the greater cross-sectional area, doesn't work here. You should memorize that blood pressure in a human is greatest in the aorta and drops until the blood gets back to the heart.
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A is correct. Don't let the not-so-subtle physics reference fool you. Bernoulli's equation, which would indicate a greater pressure at the greater cross-sectional area, doesn't work here. You should memorize that blood pressure in a human is greatest in the aorta and drops until the blood gets back to the heart.
Want more questions? - Click here to check out our MCAT Question A Day archive
