Blood Vessels

Question 1

what are the blood vessels?

Answer 1

arteries capillaries and veins

Question 2

what are the characteristics and functions of arteries?

Answer 2

-arteries carry blood away from the heart
-MOST carry oxygenated blood (except pulmonary artery)
-strong muscular walls
-don’t need any valves because its very high pressure (has the force of the beating heart behind it)
-narrow lumen
-deep in skin
-arterioles transfer blood to the capillaries (are smaller than arteries but bigger than capillaries)

Question 3

what are the characteristics and functions of veins?

Answer 3

-they carry blood into the heart
-MOST carry deoxygented blood (except pulmonary vein)
-have valves as they are at low pressure
-thinner walls (not as thin as capillaries but thinner than arteries)
-venules connect to capillaries taking blood away from capillary beds

Question 4

what are the characteristics and functions of capillaries?

Answer 4

-allow for gaseous exchange of the blood
-walls are on cell thick (thin enough for for nutrients and waste to pass through)
-no valves
-narrow lumen
-lower pressure