Blood Vessels

Question 1

What are the three layers of the blood vessels?

Answer 1

Tunica externa - connective tissue

Tunica media - smooth muscle + elastic connective tissue
-Smooth muscle - regulates diameter of blood vessel (controlled by ANS), contraction = decreased diameter = “vasoconstriction”, relaxation = increased diameter = “vasodilation”
- Elastic connective tissue - allows the blood vessel to stretch and recoil as the pressure within it fluctuates

Tunica interna - epithelial tissue

Question 2

What is systolic blood pressure?

Answer 2

Systolic BP = pressure on arterial walls during ventricular contraction

Question 3

What is diastolic blood pressure?

Answer 3

Diastolic BP = pressure on arterial walls during ventricular relaxation

Question 4

Describe/name the four sections of the aorta.

Answer 4

Ascending aorta - heart

Arch of the aorta - head, neck and upper limbs

Thoracic aorta - thoracic cavity

Abdominal aorta - abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity, lower limbs

Question 5

Which arteries can be found in the thoracic aorta?

Answer 5

Visceral arteries - viscera inside the thoracic cavity (except the heart)

Parietal arteries - structures that make up the thoracic cage (ex. Bones and muscles)

Brachial arteries/veins - oxygenated blood to lung tissue (a) + deoxygenated blood from lungs (v) *nourishment/waste removal

Pulmonary Arteries/veins - deoxygenated blood to the alveoli (a) + oxygenated blood from the alveoli (v) *gas exchange (O2, CO2)

Question 6

Which arteries can be found in the abdominal aorta?

Answer 6

Celiac trunk - stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, spleen

Superior mesenteric - small and large intestines

Inferior mesenteric - large intestine

External iliac artery

Common iliac artery

Internal iliac artery - pelvic cavity, external genitalia

Suprarenal artery - adrenal glands

Renal artery - kidneys

Gonadal artery- gonads (ovaries, testes)