Circulatory system Flashcards
Large elastic artery function
conducting
Location of large elastic artery
closest to heart
Tunica intima structure of LEA
endothelial cells w thin subendothelium of CT and discontinuous elastic laminae
Tunica Media structure LEA
4-70 fenestrated elastic membranes w smooth muscle cells and collagen btwn lamella
Thickest part of elastic artery?
Tunica media
Tunica Adentitia LEA
thin CT layer containing lymphatics, nerves and vasa vasorum
Distributing artery
Medium muscular artery
function MMA
distribute blood to sub-regions of body
T.intima MMA
endothelium, subendo and thick elastic lamina
T.Media MMA
~40 layers smooth muscle connected by gap junctions
gap junction in TM MMA allow
coordinated contraction
T.Adentitia MMA
thin CT layer containing minor vasa vasorum, lymphatics and nerve fibres
Arterioles function
microcirculation. carry blood to metarterioles
structure arterioles
diameter less than 0.1mm
3 layers smooth muscle cells
no internal elastic lamina
metarterioles function
supply capillary beds
structure metarterioles
precapillary sphincters- intermediate rings of smooth muscle control blood flow
Veins structure
larger diameter and thinner wall. more CT less elastic and muscle fibres
small/medium veins structural features
well developed TA, thin TM and TI