Blood Vessels

Blood Vessels are Designed for Their Function

There are three different types of blood vessel

• Arteries- take blood away from the heart
• Capillaries- these are involved in the exchange of materials at the tissues
• Veins- take blood to the heart

Arteries Carry Blood Under Pressure

• The heart pumps the blood out at high pressure so the artery walls are strong and elastic
• The walls are thick comapred to the size of the hole down the midde (the lumen) They contain think layers of muscle to make them strong
• The largest artery in the body is the Aorta

Cappilaries are really…