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

Determine effective half life and value of effective decay, 1. By direct me...

1. By direct measurement of the activity of the thyroid gland in several patients who had received 131 I for diagnostic purposes, it was observed that the biological elimination h

Beta - blockers, Beta-blockers have traditionally been considered contraind...

Beta-blockers have traditionally been considered contraindicated in patients with heart failure because they may block the compensatory actions of the sympathetic nervous system wi

Explain different amino acids found in proteins, How many different protein...

How many different proteins, each composed of 8 amino acids, can be constructed using the 20 different amino acids found in proteins?

Define the confusion stage when drug effects on food intake, Define the Con...

Define the Confusion Stage when Drug effects on food intake? Confusion: Drugs, which impair memory or cause confusion can result in people forgetting to eat. Central nervous sy

Byproducts of high energy value but low in nitrogen, Byproducts of high ene...

Byproducts of high energy value but low in nitrogen The byproducts of the sugar industry (molasses, sugar beet pulp), the horticultural industry and products such as stock fee

Factor influencing lipid oxidation - temperature, Factors affecting lipid o...

Factors affecting lipid oxidation Temperature In general, the rate of oxidation increases as the temperature is increased. Temperature also influences the relation betw

What is the absolute pressure at the bottom of the container, A container i...

A container is filled to a depth of 20.0 cm with water. On top of the water floats a 30.0-cm-thick layer of oil with specific gravity 0.700. What is the absolute pressure at the bo

What is the conjugate acid, Calculate the pH: 300mL of 0.25M sodium ascorba...

Calculate the pH: 300mL of 0.25M sodium ascorbate plus 150mL of 0.2M HCl (the pKa of ascorbic acid is 4.04) okay, what's the conjugate acid and base of this problem? Can someone wa

What is a ph meter, What is a pH meter? A pH meter is a device used for...

What is a pH meter? A pH meter is a device used for measuring. pH of any unknown solution. It is composed of: a) A reference electrode b) Glass electrode whose potential

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