Blood Vessels Flashcards
1
Q
What are the three types of blood vessels?
A
Arteries, veins and capillaries
2
Q
Describe the function of arteries.
A
They carry blood away from the heart to the body, with that blood usually being oxygenated.
3
Q
Describe the function of veins.
A
They carry blood back to the heart from the body, with that blood usually being deoxygenated.
4
Q
Describe the function of capillaries.
A
They connect arteries and veins, and act as sites of diffusion at the lungs and muscles.
5
Q
What are two differences between arteries and veins?
A
- Arteries have high blood pressure, veins have low blood pressure (usually)
- Arteries contain muscles to pump blood further, veins do not and rely on skeletal muscle movement to pump blood
- Arteries do not have valves to stop backflow (due to having muscles in the wall), veins do
- Arteries usually carry red/oxygenated blood, veins usually carry blue/deoxygenated blood
- Arteries lead away from the heart, veins lead back to the heart
- Arteries are found deep within the body, veins can be found more superficially (closer to the surface)
6
Q
What is the function of red blood cells?
A
They carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body to either utilise or discard.
7
Q
What is the name of the substance in red blood cells that allows the binding of oxygen and carbon dioxide?
A
Haemoglobin
