Blood Vessels

Cards (6)

  • The heart acts as the pump for the circulatory system
  • Blood vessels
    1. Arteries carry blood away from the heart
    2. Capillaries exchange nutrients and oxygen with tissues
    3. Veins carry blood back to the heart
  • Arteries
    • Carry blood directly from the heart
    • Blood inside is at high pressures
    • Have thick layers of muscle and elastic tissue to be strong and elastic
  • Capillaries
    • Very small vessels that come into close contact with cells
    • Walls are only one cell thick and permeable
    • Total cross-sectional area is much higher than arteries, so blood flows more slowly
  • Veins
    • Relatively large with biggest lumen
    • Walls are thin with small layers of elastic and muscle
    • Have valves to prevent backwards blood flow
  • Calculating rate of blood flow
    Divide volume of blood by time taken