Blood Vessels

Question 1

What are arteries/their function?

Answer 1

carry blood away from heart
- majority carry O2 blood, except for pulmonary artery

Question 2

what are veins/their function?

Answer 2

carry blood toward heart
- majority carry de-O2 blood, except for pulmonary veins
- large volume; low pressure
- thin wall; large lumen
- capacitance vessels (supply 65% of blood supply)

Question 3

what are capillaries/their function?

Answer 3

direct contact w/ tissue cells; directly serve cellular needs
- smallest vessels
- single layer of endothelium (tunica intima)
- exchange nutrients & wastes (exchange vessels)
- only 1 RBC can pass @ a time

Question 4

what is the difference between arteries, veins & capillaries?

Question 5

What are the three layers (aka tunics) of generic blood vessel walls from innermost to
outermost?

Answer 5

Innermost
1.) TUNICA INTIMA
2.) TUNICA MEDIA
3.) TUNICA EXTERNA
outermost

Question 6

Tunica Intima

Answer 6

innermost layer
- single layer of smooth CT; squamous epithelial cells

Question 7

Tunica Media

Answer 7

middle layer; responsible for vasoconstriction/vasodilation
- smooth muscle
- sympathetic vasomotor nerve fibers regulate diameter (vasoconstriction/vasodilation)

Question 8

Tunica Externa

Answer 8

outermost layer
- vasa vasorum

Question 9

vasa vasorum

Answer 9

system of tiny blood vessels in larger vessels

Question 10

Vasoconstriction

Answer 10

constrict blood vessels; increases blood pressure.

Question 11

Vasodilation

Answer 11

increase diameter of blood vessel; increases blood flow

Question 12

what are the 3 types of arteries?

Answer 12

1. Elastic arteries
2. Muscular arteries
3. Arterioles

Question 13

Elastic Arteries

Answer 13

conducting arteries
- largest (aorta); thick-walled; low-resistance lumen
- elastin in all 3 tunics
- pressure reservoir
- conduct blood from heart to muscular arteries

Question 14

lumen

Answer 14

the space within a blood vessel

Question 15

Muscular Arteries

Answer 15

distributing arteries
- tunica media contains more smooth muscle & less elastic tissue
- active in vasoconstriction/vasodilation to adjust blood flow
- vascular tone
- deliver blood to body organs

Question 16

Arterioles

Answer 16

resistance arteries
- microscopic vessels that regulate how much blood goes into capillaries
- changes diameter, changing resistance to blood flow

Question 17

Which tunic layer is responsible for vasoconstriction / vasodilation?

Answer 17

tunica media

Question 18

Match the three words with the type of artery it describes:
1. Conducting
2. Resistance
3. Distributing

Question 19

What are the walls of capillaries made out of?

Question 20

what is the function of the walls of capillaries?

Question 21

What are the 3 types of
capillaries?

Question 22

what is a capillary bed & what is their function?

Question 23

what process occurs in the capillary bed?

Question 24

What feature of veins prevents backflow of venous blood?

Question 25

What is blood flow?

Question 26

what is blood pressure?