Indicate whether each statement is true or false: 1. Compliance is the tendency for blood vessel volume to increase as blood pressure decreases. True 2. Blood vessels with a large compliance exhibit a small increase in volume when the pressure increases a small amount. True 3. Venous compliance is approximately 24X greater than arterial compliance, so as venous pressure increases the volume of veins greatly increases. True

1. False

2. False

3. True

Explanation:

1. Compliance is the capacity of a container to increase in size to allow it hold more content. Blood vessel, arteries and veins expand (increase in volume) to be able to accommodate a surge in blood flow, which is as a result of an increase in pressure of the blood from the heart pumping of the blood

Therefore, compliance in the tendency for blood vessel volume to increase as the blood pressure increases not decrease

The statement is false

2. A large compliance is indicative of being highly sensitive to changes in pressure

Compliance, C = ΔV/ΔP

From the above equation, a blood vessel with a large compliance, exhibit a large increase in volume when the increase in pressure is small

Therefore, the statement 'Blood vessels with a large compliance exhibit a small increase in volume when pressure increases a small amount; is false

3. The compliance of the vein ranges from 10 to 20 times (30 times in some literature) greater than arteries. A factor which can be affected by the vascular smooth muscle contraction or relaxation

Therefore, the statement, 'venous compliance is approximately 24 times larger than arterial compliance, so as venous pressure increases the volume of veins greatly increases' is true