Arteries - circulation, Biology

Assignment Help:

Arteries - Circulation

The arteries deliver blood from the heart. Figure shows the structure of arteries and the different layers of the vessel wall. The thick walls of these blood vessels, except those of the smallest, are supplied by their own capillary network called vasa vasoram. The arteries serve four main functions:

  1. To act as a conduit for blood between heart and capillaries,
  2. To act as a pressure reservoir for forcing blood into small diameter arterioles,
  3. To produce a more or less even flow of blood through the capillaries,
  4. To control distribution of blood to different capillary networks via selective constriction of the terminal branches

 

 

143_Arteries - Circulation.png

Figure: Major structures in peripheral blood circulation in mammals. Blood flows from the arteries through the capillaries into the veins (id is internal diameter).

There is a precise control on arterial blood pressure. The nature of the arterial wall and the volume of blood pumped into the arteries determine the pressure. If any of these are changed, the pressure will also change. Normally, arterial blood pressure varies very little as cardiac output and capillary flow is evenly matched.

The elastic properties of arterial walls vary. Close to the heart the arteries are elastic and dampen the oscillations in pressure and flow generated by the contractions of the heart. As the heart relaxes the pressure in the arteries is maintained by a reduction in vessel volume. If the arteries were rigid tubes then the same pressure fluctuations would be experienced by peripheral vessels as that observed when blood leaves the heart.


Related Discussions:- Arteries - circulation

Internal ear, INTERNA L EAR - It is called membranous labyrinth p...

INTERNA L EAR - It is called membranous labyrinth protected by bonny labyrinth of periotic bone (Frontal, Temporal and  Parietal). Between internal ear and bonny la

Atp, what is atp explain in detail?

what is atp explain in detail?

Mammalian testis, Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

For the biological diversity is mitosis or meiosis, For the biological dive...

For the biological diversity is mitosis or meiosis the more important process? Meiosis is the cell division process that permits the formation of gametes to sexual reproduction

Heart, how the blood is circulated with the help of heart

how the blood is circulated with the help of heart

What is the generic function of leukocytes, What is the generic function of...

What is the generic function of leukocytes? What are leukocytosis and leukopenia? The generic function of leukocytes is to contribute in the defense of the body against strange

Central and peripheral nervous system - geriatric nutrition, Explain Centra...

Explain Central and Peripheral Nervous System - Geriatric Nutrition? Age related changes occur in various senses related to the cranial nerves-vision, hearing, taste and smell

Conduct of perfusion-cardio pulmonary bypass, Conduct of Perfusion :  At t...

Conduct of Perfusion :  At the beginning of the bypass, the pump output is usually kept at 2.4 litres per meter per minute. On coming off bypass, the flow is gradually reduced til

Reroduction, describe and compare reproduction in all the kingdoms except k...

describe and compare reproduction in all the kingdoms except kingdom animalia

Explain technologicai advances of clinical dietitian, Explain TechnologicaI...

Explain TechnologicaI advances of clinical dietitian TechnologicaI advances in nutritional  support for the critically ill have enhanced the clinical dietitian's role. In the

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd