Why do arteries have thick elastic walls?
Reveal answer
High pressure → walls stretch and recoil → withstand and smooth flow.
Key words: pressure
3(h) TRANSPORT · RECALL
3.18 Arteries, veins and capillaries
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Why do veins have valves?
Reveal answer
Low pressure → valves stop backflow.
Key words: backflow
How are capillaries adapted?
Reveal answer
Wall one cell thick → short diffusion distance; large network → large surface area.
Key words: one cell
Which vessel has the widest lumen?
Reveal answer
The vein.
Key words: vein
Which vessels exchange substances with cells?
Reveal answer
Capillaries.
Key words: capillaries
What is meant by the term artery?
Reveal answer
Vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
Key words: artery
What is meant by the term vein?
Reveal answer
Vessel carrying blood toward the heart.
Key words: vein
What is meant by the term capillary?
Reveal answer
Microscopic exchange vessel linking arterial and venous sides.
Key words: capillary
What is meant by the term elastic recoil?
Reveal answer
Return of stretched tissue toward its original shape.
Key words: elastic recoil
Vessel structure and function: for Artery, give the direction and pressure and the structure and function.
Reveal answer
Direction and pressure: Away from heart; high and pulsatile. Structure and function: Thick muscular, elastic wall and relatively narrow lumen withstand pressure and maintain flow.
Key words: Artery
Vessel structure and function: for Vein, give the direction and pressure and the structure and function.
Reveal answer
Direction and pressure: Toward heart; low pressure. Structure and function: Thinner wall, wide lumen and valves support low-resistance return without backflow.
Key words: Vein
Vessel structure and function: for Capillary, give the direction and pressure and the structure and function.
Reveal answer
Direction and pressure: Between arterioles and venules; low and falling pressure. Structure and function: One-cell-thick wall, narrow lumen and dense networks support exchange.
Key words: Capillary
True or false, and why? “Arteries always carry oxygenated blood.”
Reveal answer
False. Direction defines them; the pulmonary artery is deoxygenated.
True or false, and why? “Veins have no muscle.”
Reveal answer
False. They have thinner smooth-muscle layers than arteries.
True or false, and why? “Capillary walls are one cell thick so they do not break.”
Reveal answer
False. Thinness aids exchange; low pressure and tissue support reduce damage risk.