Mass Transport- Arteies (BV) Flashcards
What are the four main layers that make up an artery?
Lumen, Endothelium, Middle layer and Outer layer
What type of cell type is the endothelium?
Smooth squamous
What is the purpose of the endothelium?
To reduce friction between the blood vessel and blood
What does the ticker middle layer contain?
Muscles fibres
Elastic fibres
What happens to the elastic tissues as you move away from the heart?
There are fewer elastic fibres and more muscle fibres
What does the outer layer contain?
Tough collagen fibres
What four main substances does the blood carry?
White Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells
Platelets
Hormones
An artery is an organ.
What is an organ?
A collection of different tissues that work together to achieve a particular function.
Why are artery walls thick?
To withstand high pressure of blood
Describe the walls of arterioles.
They contain much more smooth muscle fibres compared to arteries.
Why do arterioles have more smooth muscle fibres?
So that they can contract, reducing the diameter of the lumen and reducing blood flow.
What do contractions of arterioles help?
The volume of blood flowing into a tissue at a particular time
