Chapter 19 - Arteries Flashcards
Which direction do arteries carry blood?
Away from the heart, except in the pulmonary circuit
Which direction do veins carry blood?
Towards the heart
What is the main job of capillaries?
Take care of tissue needs, only vessels where gas exchange takes place
What are the 3 layers of arteries and veins?
Tunica Externa, Tunica Media, Tunica Intima
What is the Tunica Externa - Where found? What is it made up of? Purpose?
External layer of arteries/veins, made up of collagen fibers, anchors the vessel to surrounding structures
What is a lumen?
Cavity inside a blood vessel, hollow organ, or inside a tube
What is the Tunica Media - where found? what is it made up of? Purpose?
middle layer, made up of smooth muscle + elastin, regulates blood circulation
What is the tunica intima - where found? what is it made up of? purpose?
Innermost layer, contains the endothelium, allows blood to move smoothly
What is an endothelium?
Inner lining of all blood vessels made up of simple squamous cells
What is the subendothelial layer?
Found in vessels greater than 1mm in diameter, exterior to the endothelium
What are the 3 types of arteries?
Elastic, muscular, arterioles
What is another name for an elastic artery?
conducting arteries
Describe the structure of an elastic artery
Very thick walls, contain elastin in all 3 tunics
Where are elastin arteries found?
aorta and major branches
What is the role of an elastic artery?
Act as pressure reservoir to expand and recoil with blood ejection
What is another name for muscular arteries?
distributing arteries
Where are muscular arteries located?
distal to the elastic arteries
What is the role of a muscular artery?
Delivery system to body organs, very important in vasoconstriction
Describe the structure of a muscular artery
Very thick tunica media and thick layer of smooth muscle
How do muscular arteries control blood flow?
vasoconstriction
What are arterioles?
smallest arteries, last branches before capillary beds
What is the role of arterioles?
Control flow to capillary beds through vasodilation and vasoconstriction
What are capillaries?
smallest of all blood vessels
What is the structure of a capillary and why?
Very thin tunica intima, only one cell thick to allow increased permeabillity