Blood vessels

• The heart supplies blood to the body
• Blood carries important materials which are required for the body to function and to keep healthy
• Blood is transported around the body via blood vessels
• Blood vessels


  • They help to maintain the body's blood pressure
  • They deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells around the body
  • They transport waste products away
• Types of blood vessels

  • Artery
  • Capillary
  • Vein
• Artery


  Takes blood away from the heart, contains nutrients and water, supplies blood to the rest of the body, transports blood from the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated, has a thick muscular elastic wall that constrict and expand, has a narrow lumen, blood flows at high pressure, no valves, situated very deep into the skin
• Arteriole


  Smaller than arteries, bigger than capillaries, connects to capillaries, transports blood to the capillary beds
• Capillary


  Tiny blood vessels which allow oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and water to move in and out of the bloodstream, located between arteries and veins, allow exchange of materials between the blood and the surrounding cells, receive oxygen and nutrients and release waste products, one cell thick, narrow lumen, blood flows at low pressure, no valves
• Vein


  Carry blood to the heart, transport deoxygenated blood, carbon dioxide and other waste from the body back to the heart, have thin walls, wide lumen, blood flows at low pressure, have valves to ensure blood only flows in one direction, located superficially on the skin
• Venule


  Smaller than veins, bigger than capillaries, connects to capillaries, transports blood away from the capillary beds
• Blood flow


  1. Artery

  2. Arterial

  3. Capillary bed

  4. Venule

  5. Vein
• The aorta is the biggest artery of the heart and helps transport oxygenated blood to the body
• Veins have valves to ensure the slow-moving blood only flows in one direction