3.1.2 transport in animals Flashcards
(34 cards)
arteries
transport blood away from the heart at high pressure to tissues
have a narrow lumen to maintain high blood pressure
pulse is present
arterioles
arteries branch into narrower blood vessels which transport blood into capillaries
veins
transport blood to the heart at low pressure
have a wider lumen
receive blood passed through capillary network
rate of blood flow is slower
contain valves to prevent backflow
no pulse
venules
narrower blood vessels transport blood from capillaries to the veins
the layers of blood vessel walls
tunica externa
tunica media
tunica intima
structure of arteries: tunica intima
endothelial layer, layer of connective tissue and a layer of elastic fibres
what does the endothelium layer do?
one cell thick
lines lumen of blood vessels
smooth and reduces friction for free blood flow
structure of arteries: tunica media
smooth muscle cells and thick layer of elastic tissue
has a thick tunica media
what does the layer of muscle cells do?
strengthens arteries to withstand high pressure
enables them to contract and narrow the lumen for reduced blood flow
what does the elastic tissue do?
helps to maintain blood pressure in arteries
stretches and recoils to even out fluctuations in pressure
structure of arteries: tunica externa
made up of collagen
what does collagen do?
strong proteins protects blood vessels from damage by over-stretching
structure of arterioles
muscular layer to contract and partially cut off blood flow to specific organs to regulate blood flow e.g. during exercise
lower proportion of elastic fibres
structure of veins
tunica media - much thinner - dont have to withstand high pressure
lumen - much larger - ensure blood returns to heart at an adequate speed, reduces friction between blood and endothelial layer
structure of venules
few to no elastic fibres
large lumen
low pressure - no need for muscular layer
capillaries
can form networks called capillary beds which are important exchange surfaces within the circulatory system
structure of capillaries
blood travels slow for diffusion to occur
branch of capillaries form so substances can diffuse across a short diffusion distance
single layer of endothelial cells - reduce diffusion distance
fenestrations - allow blood plasma to lead out and form tissue fluid
white blood cells can combat infection in
structure of capillaries
blood travels slow for diffusion to occur
branch of capillaries form so substances can diffuse across a short diffusion distance
single layer of endothelial cells - reduce diffusion distance
fenestrations - allow blood plasma to lead out and form tissue fluid
components of the blood
red blood cells - transport oxygen
white blood cells - role in immune system
platelets - blood clotting
blood plasma - glucose, amino acids, mineral ions etc, oxygen, albumin
formation of tissue fluid
plasma leaks out of the fenestrations of capillaries as blood passes through
proteins stay in blood as they are too large to fit through the gaps
hydrostatic pressure
the pressure exerted by a fluid e.g. blood pressure generated by the contraction of the heart muscle
oncotic pressure
osmotic pressure exerted by plasma proteins within a blood vessel
plasma proteins lower the water potential within the blood vessel, causing water to move into the blood vessel by osmosis
arteriole end
hydrostatic pressure > oncotic pressure
net movement of water, dissolved solutes, glucose and amino acids out of capillary through fenestrations
increased protein content in capillary creates a water potential gradient between capillary and tissue fluid
venule end
oncotic pressure > hydrostatic pressure
net movement of water in
pressure in capillary is reduced due to increased distance from heart
water potential gradient - water moves into capillary from tissue fluid