AP II Chap 19

Three major types of blood vessels.

Based on the size and function, arteries can be divided into these three categories.

These are thick-walled arteries near the heart (aorta and major branches). Large lumens make them low-resistance pathways that conduct blood from the heart to medium-sized arteries.

These arteries deliver blood to specific body organs, have the thickest media of all vessels, and are more active in vasoconstriction and less distensible.

These are the smallest of the arteries, lead into the capillary beds, single layer of smooth muscle cells spiraling around endothelial lining.

Capillaries are the smalles blood vessels and can be categorized structurally as what 3 types?

The flow of blood from an arteriole to a venule through a capillary bed is called this.

Capillary beds are interweaving networks that consist of these two types of vessels.

A short vessel that directly connects the arteriole and venule at opposite ends of the bed

These carry blood from the capillary beds to the heart.

These are formed when capillaries unite.

These are formed when venules join to form thin walled larger structures.

The venous system consists of thick longitudinal bundles of these fibers and elastic networks.

Percentage of body's blood supply in the veins at any time.

How much the elastic arteries close to the heart can be stretched and the volume of blood forced into them at any time affects this.

This is the difference between the Ps and Pd.

The pressure that propels blood to the tissue.

Three reasons low capillary pressures are desirable.

Normal CO.