Circulatory System- Blood Vessels Flashcards
What are the three different types of blood vessels?
- Arteries
- Capillaries
- Veins
What is the primary function of arteries?
Carry blood away from the heart
What is the primary function of capillaries?
Involved in the exchange of materials at the tissues
What is the primary function of veins?
Carry blood to the heart
How does the heart affect blood pressure in arteries?
The heart pumps the blood out at high pressure
What structural features do arteries have to support their function?
- Strong and elastic walls
- Thick walls compared to lumen
- Thick layers of muscle
- Elastic fibres
What is the lumen in the context of blood vessels?
The hole down the middle of the vessel
What is the thickness of capillary walls?
Only one cell thick
Why are capillaries important for cells?
They carry blood close to every cell for substance exchange
What type of walls do capillaries have?
Permeable walls
What substances do capillaries supply and remove?
- Supply: food and oxygen
- Remove: waste like CO₂
What happens to capillaries as they connect to veins?
They join up to form veins
How do the walls of veins compare to those of arteries?
Thinner walls due to lower pressure
What is the lumen size in veins compared to arteries?
Bigger lumen than arteries
What feature do veins have to assist blood flow?
Valves to keep blood flowing in the right direction
Fill in the blank: The rate of blood flow can be calculated by _______.
volume of blood ÷ number of minutes
Calculate the rate of blood flow if 1464 ml of blood passed through an artery in 45 minutes.
325 ml/min
