Transport in Animals-Blood Vessels AS

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Arteries

Structure 

  • Thick walls to withstand high pressure coming from the heart   
  • Strong elastin fibre walls to withstand the force of blood and to stretch to take larger blood volume 
  • Small lumen to maintain pressure for an efficient rate of blood flow 

Function

  • Carry blood away from the heart 
  • Carries oxygenated blood (except pulmonary artery)
  • Carried under high pressure to reach all cells and meet demands 
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Veins

Function 

  • Carry deoxygenated blood (except pulmonary vein)
  • Carry blood back to the vessels connected to the heart

Structure

  • Large lumen 
  • Strong collagen outer walls
  • Valves to prevent backflow of blood 
  • Bigger veins run between muscles so when muscles contract blood is forced towards the heart
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Capillaries

Structure

  • The outer wall is one cell thick for efficient diffusion of substances 
  • Small lumen
  • Very thin walls 

Function

  • Links arteries to veins 
  • Diffusion of substances in and out of the blood
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