Circulatory System - Blood Vessels

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  • Blood Vessels
    • ARTERIES
      • The hearts pumps blood out at high pressure
        • Artery walls are strong and elastic.
          • They contain thick layers of muscle to make them strong, and elastic fibres to allow them to stitch and spring back.
      • The walls are thick compared to the size of the hole (lumen)
      • They contain thick layers of muscle to make them strong, and elastic fibres to allow them to stitch and spring back.
      • Carry blood away from the heart.
    • CAPILLARIES
      • Arteries branch into capillaries.
        • ARTERIES
          • The hearts pumps blood out at high pressure
            • Artery walls are strong and elastic.
            • The walls are thick compared to the size of the hole (lumen)
            • Carry blood away from the heart.
        • Capillaries are really tiny (too small to see).
        • They carry the blood really close to every cell in the body and exchange substances with them
        • They have permeable walls, so substances can diffuse in and out.
        • They supply food and oxygen, and take away waste such as CO2.
        • Their walls are usually only one cell thick. This increases the rate of diffusion by decreasing the diffusion distance.
      • Veins
        • Capillaries eventually join up to form veins.
          • CAPILLARIES
            • Arteries branch into capillaries.
              • Capillaries are really tiny (too small to see).
              • They carry the blood really close to every cell in the body and exchange substances with them
              • They have permeable walls, so substances can diffuse in and out.
              • They supply food and oxygen, and take away waste such as CO2.
              • Their walls are usually only one cell thick. This increases the rate of diffusion by decreasing the diffusion distance.
          • The blood is at lower pressure in the veins so the walls don't need to be as thick as artery walls.
          • They have a bigger hole (lumen) than arteries to help the blood flow despite the lower pressure.
          • They also have valves to help keep the blood flowing in the right direction.

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