blood vessels

Question 1

what is the role of the arteries?
how are they specialised for their function?

Answer 1

carry high pressure blood from heart to organs
thick muscular walls to withstand high pressure blood
elastic fibres which allow them to stretch and spring back which keeps blood flowing

Question 2

what is the role of the capillaries?
how are they specialised for their function?

Answer 2

involved in exchange of materials at the tissue
thin walls for a short diffusion pathway
permeable walls so substances can pass through

Question 3

what is the role of the veins?
how are they specialised for the function?

Answer 3

carry blood to heart
thin walls because of low blood pressure so walls don’t need to be thick
contain valves to prevent backflow of blood