Blood & Blood Vessels

• Blood vessels are designed to transport blood to all cells. This is a closed circulatory system
• Main blood vessels

  • Artery
  • Vein
  • Capillary
• Arteries


  Carry oxygenated blood away from your heart
• Arteries carry blood under pressure
• Arteries have narrower lumens than veins
• Arteries have no valves (except the semi-lunar valves in the pulmonary artery)
• Connective tissue in arteries provides strength and stops blood going straight back into the heart
• Circulatory system


  Much more than just the heart pump, includes a network of blood vessels
• Blood vessels


  • Active, dynamic organs capable of contracting and expanding
  • Deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells
  • Carry away waste products
  • Maintain blood pressure
• Pricking a finger or bumping a shin damages blood vessels, causing bleeding or bruising