Blood Vessels

Question 1

What are arteries?

Answer 1

Strong, elastic vessels that carry blood away from the heart under high pressure.

They branch into thinner tubes called arterioles and have walls with 3 layers.

Question 2

What are veins?

Answer 2

Vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

They are thinner than arteries, have walls with 3 layers, and contain valves to prevent backflow. They start as venules which merge into veins.

Question 3

What are capillaries?

Answer 3

The smallest blood vessels that connect the smallest arterioles to venules.

They are the site of gas exchange between tissues and blood, have a single layer wall, and their density is highest in areas with high metabolism.

Question 4

What is the function of coronary arteries?

Answer 4

They regulate blood supply to the heart muscle based on its oxygen needs.

They increase oxygen supply to the heart by increasing blood flow through dilation.