Blood vessels

Question 1

What is the function of arteries?

Answer 1

Arteries carry blood away from the heart, directing this blood into the arterioles

Question 2

Are arterioles bigger or smaller than arteries?

Answer 2

Arterioles are smaller than arteries but bigger than capillaries

Question 3

What is the function of arterioles?

Answer 3

The function of arterioles connect the arteries to the capillaries

Question 4

What is the function of capillaries?

Answer 4

Connect arteries to the vein

Question 5

What is the function of the vein?

Answer 5

Carry blood back to the heart

Question 6

Describe the arteries’ muscle layer. Explain why the arteries are their level of thickness:

Answer 6

The arteries’ muscle layer is thicker than the veins.

The arteries’ are thick so construction and dilation can occur to control the volume of blood being pumped away from the heart

Question 7

Describe the veins’ muscle layer. Explain why the veins are their level of thickness:

Answer 7

Veins have a relatively thin muscular layer, so they cannot control blood flow

Question 8

Describe the arteries’ elastic layer. Explain why the arteries are their level of thickness:

Answer 8

Arteries have a thicker elastic layer than veins

This is to help maintain blood pressure. Allows arteries to stretch and recoil in response to the heart beat, in order to avoid tearing

Question 9

Describe the veins’ elastic layer. Explain why the veins are their level of thickness:

Answer 9

Veins have a relatively thin elastic wall layer because blood in the veins is at the lower pressure and does not require the thick elastic layer

Question 10

Describe the arteries’ wall thickness. Explain why the arteries are their level of thickness:

Answer 10

Arteries have a thicker wall than veins.
This helps prevent the vessels from bursting due to the high pressure

Question 11

Describe the veins’ wall thickness. Explain why the veins are their level of thickness:

Answer 11

Veins have thinner walls as the pressure is much lower so there is a low risk of bursting.

The thinness means the vessels are easily flattened, helping the flow of blood to the heart

Question 12

Do arteries have valves? Do veins have valves?

Answer 12

Arteries do not have valves and veins do have valves

Question 13

Outline the features of capillaries

Answer 13

One cell thick

Red blood cells can only just fit the diameter of the lumen

Question 14

Why is it an advantage that red blood cells can only fit the diameter of the linen?

Answer 14

This allows blood flow to slow down significantly therefore making more time for diffusion which maximises the rate of diffusion

Question 15

Describe the arterioles’ muscle layer thickness. Explain why the arterioles are their level of thickness:

Answer 15

Arterioles have a thicker muscular layer than arteries
This helps restrict blood flow into the capillaries, preventing possible damage

Question 16

Describe the capillaries’ wall thickness.

Answer 16

Capillaries have no muscle layer

Question 17

Describe the arterioles’ elastic layer. Explain why the arterioles are their level of thickness:

Answer 17

Arterioles have a thinner elastic wall layer than arteries, since pressure is lower inside

Question 18

Describe the capillaries’ elastic layer. Explain why the capillaries are their level of thickness:

Answer 18

There is no elastic layer in capillaries

Question 19

Describe the arterioles’ wall thickness. Explain why the arteries are their level of thickness:

Answer 19

Arterioles have a thinner wall layer as pressure is slightly lower

Question 20

Describe the capillaries ’ wall thickness. Explain why the capillaries are their level of thickness:

Answer 20

Capillaries are one cell thick. This allows for a short diffusion distance for exchanging materials between the blood and cells