Blood vessels

Question 1

features of an artery

Answer 1

narrow lumen
thicker wall
more collagen content
more elastic fibres
more smooth muscle content
no valves present
carries oxygenated blood

Question 2

features of a vein

Answer 2

wide lumen
thinner wall
less collagen
less elastic fibres
less smooth muscles content
valves are present
carries deoxygenated blood

Question 3

features of capillary

Answer 3

narrow lumen
one cell thick wall
no collagen
no elastic fibres
no smooth muscle content
no valves

Question 4

function of arteries features

Answer 4

narrow lumen- maintains high blood pressure
thicker muscle wall- withstands high blood pressure
more collagen- strength to stop artery bursting (withstand high blood pressure)
more elastic fibres- allow artery to stretch and recoil forcing blood forward to maintain high blood pressure
more smooth muscle content- contracts to narrow lumen and maintain high blood pressure
smooth endothelium- reduces friction

Question 5

function of veins features

Answer 5

wide lumen- keeps blood at low pressure
less collagen- strengthens vein but its not needed in large amounts since blood is at low pressure
less elastic fibres- less elastic recoil ( blood moves by skeletal muscles)
less smooth muscle content- less contraction to constrict blood vessels
valves- to prevent backflow of blood

Question 6

function of capillary features

Answer 6

one cell thick wall (endothelium)- reduces diffusion distance between blood and cells
narrow lumen- slows flow of blood so oxygen and glucose has time to diffuse to cells