Arteries

• Arteries - Carry blood away from the heart and into arterioles
• Arteries function:

  • To transport blood rapidly under high pressure Away from the heart to the tissues
• Arteries adaptations: Thicker muscular layer

  • Means smaller arteries can be constricted and dilated to control the volume of blood passing through them
• Arteries adaptations: Thicker elastic layer

  • Allows stretch and recoil with each ventricular contraction to maintain high blood pressure
• Arteries adaptations: Thick muscular walls and elastic layer

  • Allows stretch and recoil with each ventricular contraction to maintain high blood pressure
• Arteries adaptations: Endothelium is folded

  • Allows stretching to help maintain high pressure
• Arteries adaptations: Narrower lumen

  • Help maintain high pressure
• Arteries have thicker walls than veins to help prevent the walls bursting due to the high pressure