Chapter 21 Flashcards
(155 cards)
What are the five main types of blood vessels?
- Arteries
- Arterioles
- Blood capillaries
- Venules
- Veins
Arteries
Carry blood away from the heart to other organs.
Large, elastic arteries leave the heart and divide into medium-sized, muscular arteries that branch out into the various regions of the body. Medium-sized arteries then divide into small arteries, which in turn divide into still smaller arteries called ______. As the ______ enter a tissue, they branch into numerous tiny vessels called ______ or simply ______. The thin walls of ______ allow the exchange of substances between the blood and body tissues. Groups of ______ within a tissue reunite to form small veins called ______. These in turn merge to form progressively larger blood vessels called ______.
Arterioles; arterioles; blood capillaries; capillaries; capillaries; capillaries; venules; veins
Veins
Blood vessels that convey blood from the tissues back to the heart.
What are the three structural layers of a generalized blood vessel?
- Tunica interna (intima)
- Tunica media
- Tunica externa (adventitia)
Tunica interna (intima)
Forms the inner lining of a blood vessel and is in direct contact with the blood as it flows through the lumen.
Lumen
Interior opening of the vessel.
What are the three components of the tunica interna (intima)?
- Endothelium
- Basement membrane
- Internal elastic lamina
Endothelium (of the tunica interna (intima))
Innermost layer. Is continuous with the endocardial lining of the heart. Is a thin layer of flattened cells that lines the inner surface of the entire cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). Cells within the endothelial play a role in a variety of vessel-related activities.
Basement membrane (of the tunica interna (intima))
Middle layer. Provides a physical support base for the epithelial layer. Is a framework of collagen fibers, which provide it significant tensile strength. Contains other properties that make it resistant to stretching and recoil. Anchors the endothelium to the underlying connective tissue while also regulating molecular movement. Appears to play an important role in guiding cell movements during tissue repair of blood vessel walls.
Internal elastic lamina (of the tunica interna (intima))
Outermost layer. Forms boundary between the tunica interna (intima) and tunica media. Is a thin sheet of elastic fibers with a variable number of windowlike openings that give it the look of Swiss cheese. These openings facilitate diffusion of materials through the tunica interna (intima) to the tunica media.
Tunica media
Is a muscular and connective tissue layer that displays the greatest variation among the different vessel types. In most vessels, it is a relatively thick layer comprising mainly smooth muscle cells and substantial amounts of elastic fibers. The primary role of the smooth muscle cells is to regulate the diameter of the lumen.
Vasoconstriction
Decrease in the diameter of the lumen of a blood vessel.
Vasodilation
Increase in the diameter of the lumen of a blood vessel.
Vascular spasm
Contraction of smooth muscle when a small artery or arteriole is damaged to help limit loss of blood through the injured vessel.
What are the two components of the tunica media?
- Smooth muscle
- External elastic lamina
External elastic lamina (of the tunica media)
A network of elastic fibers that separates the tunica media from the tunica externa (adventitia).
Tunica externa (adventitia)
The outer covering of a blood vessel. Consists of elastic and collagen fibers. Contains numerous nerves and, especially in larger vessels, vasa vasorum. Help anchor the vessels to surrounding tissues.
Vasa vasorum
Blood vessels that nourish the tunica externa (adventitia).
Arteries
Their walls have the same three layers of a typical blood vessel, but have a thicker muscular-to-elastic tunica media. Due to their plentiful elastic fibers, they normally have high compliance, which means that their walls stretch easily or expand without tearing in response to a small increase in pressure.
Describe the size, tunica interna, tunica media, tunica externa, and function of elastic arteries (conducting arteries)
Function to propel blood onward while the ventricles are relaxing.
Elastic lamellae
Elastic fibers.
Pressure reservoir
What the elastic arteries function as since as they stretch, they momentarily store mechanical energy.
Describe the size, tunica interna, tunica media, tunica externa, and function of muscular arteries (distributing arteries)