Blood Vessels Flashcards
What is the vascular tree
Closed system of vessels
What do arteries do
Carry blood away from heart to tissues
What are arterioles
Smaller branches of arteries
What are capillaries
Smaller branches of arterioles. Smallest vessels
What are venules
Formed when capillaries rejoin. Return blood to heart
What are veins
Formed when venules merge. Return blood to heart
Systemic circulation
provides the functional blood supply to all body tissue. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells and picks up carbon dioxide and waste products. Systemic circulation carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle, through the arteries, to the capillaries in the tissues of the body.
Pulmonary circulation
is the system of transportation that shunts de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs to be re-saturated with oxygen before being dispersed into the systemic circulation.
Arteries carry blood ……
Away from heat
Veins carry blood …..
Back to heart
Special features of arteries
Thick, highly elastic walls, large radii
Special features of arterioles
Highly muscular, well innervated walls, small radii
Special features of capillaries
Thin walls, large total cross sectional area
Special features of veins
Thin walls compared to arteries, highly distension, large radii
How many layers/tunics of artery’s and veins
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica adventita