1.1.4 - Blood Vessels: Structure & Function Flashcards
What Are The 3 Main Types Of Blood Vessels?
~ Arteries.
~ Veins.
~ Capillaries.
What Is The Job Of The Arteries?
(2 Points)
~ Transport blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
~ At high pressure.
What Is The Job Of The Arterioles?
Transport blood to the capillaries.
What Is The Job Of The Veins?
(2 Points)
~ Transport blood to the heart.
~ At low pressure.
What Is The Job Of The Venules?
Transport blood from the capillaries to the veins.
What Is The Job Of The Capillaries?
Transport blood to the cells of the body.
Through What Part Of A Blood Vessel Does Blood Flow?
The lumen.
Describe The Structure & Function Of The Arteries
(4 Points)
~ Thick-walled, containing smooth muscle and elastic tissue to withstand and maintain blood pressure.
~ Folded endothelium, allowing expansion under high pressure.
~ Outer wall contains collagen, which protects blood vessels from damage of overstreching.
~ Narrow lumen, helping to maintain a high blood pressure.
Describe The Endothelium Layer Of A Blood Vessel
(2 Points)
~ One cell thick, lining the lumen of blood vessels (Inner lining).
~ Smooth, to reduce friction for free blood flow.
Describe The Structure & Function Of The Veins
(4 Points)
~ Thin-walled, due to blood being under lower pressure.
~ Made up of thinner smooth muscle and elastic tissue.
~ Wide lumen, to ensure blood returns to the heart at a good speed and to reduce friction between the blood and the endothelium layer.
~ Contain valves, preventing the back flow of blood.
Describe The Structure & Function Of The Capillaries
(5 Points)
~ Thin permeable walls, allowing substances to leave the blood and reach body tissues.
~ Form capillary beds, to increase the surface area for exchange.
~ Narrow lumen, to maximise diffusion time due to slow movement of blood.
~ One cell thick walls, reducing the diffusion distance.
~ Contains pores, allowing blood plasma to leak out.
