1.6 Types, structure and function of blood vessels Flashcards
What is the 3 layers of an artery and what are they like?
Outer- fibrous tissue made of collagen
Middle- smooth muscle elastic fibres
Inner- layer of cells called endothelium- the ‘lining’ of the artery.
What is the inner part of the vessel known as?
Lumen.
Why do large arteries have more muscle/elastic tissue?
So they can stretch.
When the artery contracts, what pressure is the blood flowing at?
High pressure.
What do arterioles eventually link up to?
Capillaries.
What are the three layers of a vein?
Outer layer- thin
Middle- layer of muscle and elastin
Inner- endothelium
Do veins have a smaller or wider lumen than arteries?
Wider, because there is less muscles in the wall.
In the veins, is the blood travelling at high or low pressure?
Low.
How many layers does a capillary have and what is it called?
They have one layer and it is called the endothelial cells.
How thick is the wall of the capillaries?
One cell thick.
What does the vast network of capillaries in the body tissue allow each cell to do?
Receive the nutrients it needs and take away any waste product.
