Structure of Blood Vessels Flashcards
What are the largest blood vessels in the body? What is their purpose? What are their 3 layers?
Aorta and elastic arteries; Conduits for blood flow to smaller arterial branches;
- Tunica intima
- Tunica media
- Tunica adventitia - Contains vessels that give rise to the vaso vasorum
What is unique about the tunica media of large muscular arteries?
Consists of layers of smooth muscle without bands of elastin. The lack of elastin allows for more efficient contraction.
What is the job of the smaller muscular arteries?
The are important regulators of blood flow
What is a key feature of capillaries?
They allow for the exchange of solutes and cells between blood and extracellular fluid.
What is the job of the venules? What immune function occurs in the venules?
They are the first vessels to collect blood from the capillaries
What is the job of the lymphatics?
To drain interstitial fluid