Blood Vessels Flashcards
Angiogenesis
begins in the embryo and continues throughout life
artery
delivers blood from the heart, branching into increasingly smaller vessel
capillaries
smallest blood vessels where exchange occurs, located between arterioles and venules
veins
returns blood to the heart; collects blood from capillaries in small venules which combine into increasingly larger veins
systemic circuit
provides nutrients and O2 rich blood to body’s tissues and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart
pulmonary circuit
carries deoxygenated rich blood to the lungs to be oxygenated and remove CO2
lumen
hollow passageway through which blood flows
Elastic fibers of blood vessel walls
form highly elastic networks to create passive tension and regulate blood pressure
collagen fibers of blood vessel walls
provides strength to keep the lumen open
endothelium of blood vessel walls
simple squamous epithelium: provides a smooth luminal surface that protects against intravascular coagulation, allows exchange to occur between blood and tissue fluid
smooth muscle tissue of blood vessel walls
exerts active tension in vessels when contracting, absent in capillaries
vasa vasorum
small blood vessels to promote exchange within thicker blood vessel walls
nervi vasorum
small nerves within blood vessel walls to control contraction and dilation of smooth muscle
tunica interna
the innermost layer of blood vessles; only layer in conact with blood; continuous layer of simpler squamous epithelium
tunica media
the thickest, middle layer in arteries, thicker in arteries than in veins; smooth muscle supported by connective tissue made of elastic fibers
