III Blood Vessels Flashcards
General Function of Arteries
- Carry blood AWAY from the heart - continuously
General Function of Veins
Carry blood TO the heart
Structure of Large Arteries
- Smooth muscle & elastic tissue
Function of Large Arteries
Store pressure from the heart
(ventricles contract, and arteries stretch)
Ventricles relax and ELASTIC arteries RECOIL, pushing blood onward
Structure of Medium-sized Arteries
Mostly muscle, less elastic
Function of Medium-sized arteries
Distribute blood to various regions
Aneurysm
Weak point in an artery or heart wall
Structure of Arterioles
Small
Muscle + endothelium + connective tissue
Function of Arterioles
Regulate flow to tissues and pressure
Arterioles Vasoconstriction
Flow DECREASES
Pressure INCREASES
Arterioles Vasodilate
Flow INCREASES
Pressure DECREASES
Metarterioles
Like arteries to capillaries. Have sphincters
Structure of Capillaries
thin-walled
Single layer of endothelial cells
in all tissues of body
Function of capilaries
Permit exchange of: nutrients, waste, O2, CO2
Precapillary Sphincters
Open and close to allow blood to get to areas of need. Only around 1/4 open at a time