Blood vessels

Question 1

Artery function

Answer 1

Carry blood away from the heart

Question 2

Capillary function

Answer 2

Exchange of materials at tissues

Question 3

Veins

Answer 3

These carry blood to the heart

Question 4

How arteries work

Answer 4

1) The heart pumps blood out at high pressure so the artery walls are strong and elastic
2) These elastic fibres allow it to expand
3) The walls are thick
4) The lumen is small

Question 5

What is the largest artery in the body?

Answer 5

The aorta

Question 6

How capillaries work

Answer 6

1) Arteries branch into capillaries
2) Capillaries are really tiny
3) They carry blood really close to every cell in the body for exchange of substances
4) They have permeable walls
5) They supply food and oxygen and take away carbon dioxide
6) Their walls are usually one-cell thick. This increases the rate of diffusion by decreasing the distance

Question 7

How veins work

Answer 7

1) Capillaries eventually join up to form veins
2) The blood is at lower pressure in the veins so the walls don’t need to be as thick
3) They have a bigger lumen that arteries
4) They have valves to prevent backflow of blood

Question 8

What us the largest vein in the body?

Answer 8

The Vena Cava