blood vascular system layers

Question 1

what are the 3 basic layers of blood vessels

Answer 1

tunica media(middle), tunica intima(inner layer) and tunica adventitia(outer layer)

Question 2

what is the tunica intima made up of

Answer 2

a single layer of squamous epithelial cells(called endothelial cells), supported by basal lamina and a thin layer of connective tissue

Question 3

what is the tunica media made up of

Answer 3

made up of smooth muscle mostly, thickness can vary tremendously

Question 4

what is the tunica adventitia made up of

Answer 4

supporting connective tissue

Question 5

how is the tunica intima separated from the tunica media

Answer 5

by a layer of elastic tissue, called the internal elastic membrane

Question 6

how is the tunica media separated from the tunica adventitia

Answer 6

by layer of elastic tissue called the external elastic membrane

Question 7

there can be variations in this general structure, give an example of a variation

Answer 7

in the largest arteries(aorta) a significant amount of the smooth muscle in the tunica media is replaced by elastic fibres, termed elastic arteries