What is the structure and function of the heart vessels?
Arteries – Structure: These are large blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (however a couple do carry deoxygenated blood). Arteries consist of a small lumen and thick muscular walls with elastic fibres that give it flexibility. The thick walls help it to deal with high pressures of blood flow because it takes blood AWAY from the heart. – Function: Takes oxygenated blood away from the heart. Veins – Structure: These are blood vessels that are a bit smaller than arteries but much bigger than capillaries. Veins are actually similar in their structure to arteries, the only differences are the size of the lumen (veins have larger lumens) and the walls (the walls of the veins aren’t as muscular as the arteries). Since veins are dealing with low pressures of blood flow, they don’t need to have thick muscular walls like the arteries do. Also, veins consist of valves which prevent the back flow of blood; this is essential since the blood is deoxygenated. – Function: The
