Circulatory system - blood vessels

Question 1

What are the 3 types of blood vessels?

Answer 1

• Arteries - carry blood away from the heart
• Capillaries - exhange substances with tissues
• Veins - carry blood into the heart

Question 2

What is the structure of arteries?

Answer 2

• Carry blood under high pressure
• Thick, muscular and elastic walls
• Relatively small lumen

Question 3

What is the structure of capillaries?

Answer 3

• Arteries branch out into capillaries
• Very small wall and lumen
• Permeable and 1 cell thick wall (smaller diffusion distance)

Question 4

What is the structure of veins?

Answer 4

• Capillaries join into veins
• Blood is under low pressure - small wall
• Largest lumen of all vessels
• Have valves to prevent backflow