Unit 2.5 - Arteries, Capilaries + Veins Flashcards
How does blood circulate?
From the heart through the arteries to the capillaries then to the veins and back to the heart.
What happens to blood pressure as blood moves away from the heart?
It decreases
Describe the function of arteries
- carries blood away from the heart
- carries oxygenated blood (except for the pulmonary artery
- carries blood under high pressure
Describe the structure of arteries
- Outside where is a type of supporting tissue called connective tissue containing elastic fibres which provide support
- Middle layer contains smooth-muscle with more elastic fibres the elastic rolls stretch and recoil to accommodate the surge of blood after each contraction of the heart
- The inner lining is endothelium
- The channel of the vessel ( lumen) is narrow
Describe the structure and function of capillaries
Capillaries a low exchange of substances with tissue through their thin walls
Explain the role of vasoconstriction and vasodilation
The smooth-muscle in the walls of the arteries contract or relax causing vasoconstriction or vasodilation to control blood flow
Describe the function of veins
- Carries blood to the heart
- Carries deoxygenated blood (except pulmonary vein)
- Carries blood under low or negative pressure
- Contains valves which prevent the back flow of blood
Describe the structure of veins
- Have less connective tissue than arteries (containing elastic fibres)
- Have thin walls (have less muscular tissue than arteries)
- Have wide lumen
Describe the exchange of materials between tissue fluid and cells through pressure filtration
Pressure filtration causes plasma to pass through capillary walls into the tissue fluid surrounding the cells. Tissue fluid supplies cells with glucose, oxygen and other substances. Carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes diffuse out of the cells and into the tissue fluid to be extracted much of the tissue fluid returns to the blood
What do you lymphatic vessels do?
Absorb excess tissue fluid and return it as lymph to the circulatory system
Talk about the different between tissue fluid and blood plasma
Tissue fluid and blood plasma or similar and composition with the exception of plasma proteins which are too large to be filtered through the capillary walls