Features of blood vessels

Question 1

What are the three types of blood vessels

Answer 1

• Arteries
• Capillaries
• veins

Question 2

What are 5 structural features of arteries

Answer 2

Arteries have:

• thick wall
• smooth muscle
• elastic fibres
• lined with smooth layer of endothelial cell
• Narrow lumen

Question 3

What are the 4 functions of arteries

Answer 3

• Arteries can withstand high blood pressure
• Arteries can alter diameter of lumen to vary blood flow
• Arteries have a low friction surface to ease blood flow
• Arteries allow walls to stretch when blood is pumped into the artery and then recoil, smoothing blood flow

Question 4

What are 2 structural features of capillaries

Answer 4

Capillaries have:

• very thin wall (one cell thick)
• small lumen

Question 5

What are the 2 functions of capillaries

Answer 5

• Capillaries allow rapid exchange between blood and tissues

* Capillaries link arteries and veins

Question 6

What are 3 structural features of veins

Answer 6

Veins have:

• Thin wall
• very little smooth muscle or elastic fibres
• Wide lumen

Question 7

What are the 4 functions of veins

Answer 7

• Blood under low pressure
• No pulse of blood so no stretching and recoiling
• Large volume acts as a blood reservoir
• Valves stop backflow, ensuring a one-way flow of blood toward the heart