Blood Vessels Flashcards
(9 cards)
What are arteries
Vessels that transport blood away from the heart at high pressure
What are veins
Vessels that transport blood to the heart at low pressure
What are capillaries
Small Vessels that link arteries to veins
Adaptions of arteries
Narrow lumen, smooth muscle & elastic fibres, strong outer connective tissues, thick walls
Purpose of adaptions in arteries
Thick wall to withstand high pressure of blood
, smooth muscles/elastic fibres that stretch when blood passes through and recoil between surges
Adaptions of capillaries
Very narrow lumen, single layer of endothelium, gaps between walls
Purpose of adaptions in capillaries
Very thin walls so blood can diffuse rapidly between blood and body cells,
Porous/gaps between walls to exchange substances quickly
Adaptions of veins
Thin wall, wide lumen, smooth muscles, valves
Purpose of adaptions in veins
Thin walls because the blood pressure is low,
Valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards
Wide lumen to allow for a greater volume of blood to be transported back to the heart
