Blood Vessels Flashcards
What are the three layers of blood vessels?
Tunica Externa
Tunica Media
Tunica Intima
What does the Tunica externa contain?
This has loose connective tissue with collagen and elastin. This also has nerves, lymphatics and vessels to supply the vessel. This functions to anchor the vessel to the wall and gives protection.
What does the Tunica Media contain?
This has two layers:
- External elastic lamin: helps artery recoil after being stretched after each beat
- Smooth muscle: arranged concentrically and functions to regulate blood flow
What does the Tunica Intima contain?
This has four layers:
- internal elastic lamina: thin layer of elastin that helps vessel recoil. There is openings between the intima and media that allows diffusion.
- lamina propria: outer layer of elastic connective tissue that contain capillaries
- basement membrane: contains collagen which has a high tensile strength giving strength and anchorage
- endothelium: simple squamous
What are the three types of arteries?
Elastic, Muscular and Arterioles
What are the unique structures of elastic arteries?
Their media is full of elastin to allow easy stretching. The elastin in arranged as lamella. They have a well defined internal and elastic lamina.
What is the function of elastic arteries?
These conduct blood to their muscular arteries. They function to propel blood from the heart during ventricular diastole. The elastin contains mechanical energy which is converted into kinetic.
What are some examples of elastic arteries?
Aorta, Subclavian, Common Iliac, Common Carotid
What are the unique structures of muscular arteries?
They have a well defined internal lamina and a thin external lamina. Their media has a higher content of smooth muslce than elastin. Their vessel wall is thicker than the lumen which means they are very resistant to collapse.
What are some example of muscular arteries?
Axillar, Radial, Ulna, Splenic, Renal, Popliteal
What are the unique structures of arterioles?
They have a thin tunica interna. Their internal lamin is fenestrated and disappears closer to the capillary. They have their media with 1-2 layer of smooth muscle. Their externa has unmyelinated sympathetic nerves and loose connective tissue
What is a metateriole?
This is where an arteriole meets a arteriole
What is the function of a precapillary sphincter?
This determines the blood entry into the capillary
What are the three types of capillaries?
Continuous, Fenestrated, Discontinuous
What layers do capillaries have?
Single layer of endothelial cells and a basal lamina (connective tissue).
