Arteries, Veins & Capillaries

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Structure:

  • Arteries -
    • carry oxygenated blood under high pressure
    • pulsed flow away from the heart
    • branch into smaller arteries
  • Arterioles -
    • branch from small arteries to capillaries
    • high pressure
    • lower pulsed flow
  • Veins -
    • carries deoxygenatedblood under low pressure back to the heart
  • Capillaries -
    • site of metabolic exchange between blood and cells

Adaptions for Functions:

  • Arteries & Arterioles - 
    • thicker walls with more muscle and elastic tissue
    • folded endothelium (single cells that line the inner walls in arteries)
    • small lumen (arteries)
    • muscle tissue ~
      • contracts = narrow lumen in vasoconstriction
      • relaxes = wider lumen in vasdilation
    • thick wall ~
      • withstands high pressure
    • small lumen ~
      • helps to maintain a high pressure
    • folded

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