Blood Vessels

Question 1

Three layers of the vessel wall

Answer 1

1. Tunica interna
2. Tunica media
3. Tunica externa

Question 2

Tunica interna

Answer 2

Composed of endothelium and thin layer of connective tissue

Question 3

Tunica media

Answer 3

The thickest layer composed of elastic fibers and smooth muscle

Question 4

Tunica externa

Answer 4

Composed of connective tissue

Question 5

Elastic (conducting) Artery

Answer 5

• Largest diameter arteries

- Thick tunica media that can stretch and recoil w/ heart

Question 6

Muscular (distributing) Arteries

Answer 6

• Medium-sized arteries that distribute blood to skeletal muscles and internal organs
• Tunica media contains mostly smooth muscle
• Able to vasoconstrict and vasodilate

Question 7

Arterioles

Answer 7

• Small to microscopic vessels with a poorly defined tunica externa (thin walls)
• Tunica media is composed of smooth muscle cells
• Delivers blood to capillaries
• vasodilate/vasoconstrict to regulate blood pressure

Question 8

Capillaries

Answer 8

• Smallest blood vessels
• Connect arterioles to venules
• Allow for exchange between blood and surrounding tissues/cells
• Walls are one-cell width

Question 9

Veins

Answer 9

Collect blood from organs and tissues and return it to the heart

Question 10

Venules

Answer 10

• Smallest veins
• Collect blood from capillaries
• Wall composed primarily of tunica interna
• Venules converge to form veins

Question 11

Medium and Large Veins

Answer 11

• Tunica externa is the thickest layer because
  of ‘milking action’
• Formed by merged venules
• Carry blood back to the heart

Question 12

Valves in the walls of veins

Answer 12

• prevent backflow of blood

- venous compression (contraction of adjacent muscles) maintain blood flow

Question 13

Lymphatic Vessels

Answer 13

returns excess extracellular fluid to blood vascular system

Question 14

Largest Arteries

Answer 14

• Aorta

- Pulmonary Artery

Question 15

Minor Arteries

Answer 15

• carotid artery (head/neck)
• subclavian artery (arm/hand)
• abdominal aorta (abdominal organs)
• iliac artery (pelvic organs)
• femoral artery (thigh)

Question 16

Major Veins

Answer 16

• superior/inferior vena cava

- pulmonary vein

Question 17

Minor Veins that empty into superior vena cava

Answer 17

• jugular vein (head/neck)

- subclavian vein (upper extremities)

Question 18

Minor Veins that empty into inferior vena cava

Answer 18

• iliac vein (near groin)

- femoral vein (lower extremities)