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

Mitochondrial membrane, Fatty acid breakdown happens in the cytosol of prok...

Fatty acid breakdown happens in the cytosol of prokaryotes in plants in peroxisomes and in the mitochondrial matrix of all other eukaryotes.  By entering the mitochondrial matrix,

Embyonic development, What are the different patterns of cleavage (segmenta...

What are the different patterns of cleavage (segmentation of fertilized egg cell)?

Explain about the ocular haemodynamics, Explain about the Ocular Haemodynam...

Explain about the Ocular Haemodynamics. The pressure in the ocular arteries can be measured by optical ophthalmodynamometer. The intraocular pressure is raised to the level tha

What are the major terrestrial biomes, What are the major terrestrial biome...

What are the major terrestrial biomes? The main terrestrial biomes are: tundra, taigas (or boreal forest), temperate forests, tropical forests, grasslands and deserts.

Excreation, What is the excreatory organ in agama lizard

What is the excreatory organ in agama lizard

Types of ovarian cycles in mammals, Types of Ovarian Cycles in Mammals ...

Types of Ovarian Cycles in Mammals Mammals exhibit two types of ovarian cycles; Estrous Cycle, exhibited by non-primates such as rats, cats, dogs, pigs, and Menstr

Define prevalence of weight management, Define Prevalence of Weight Managem...

Define Prevalence of Weight Management? WHO (1998) estimates that in developing countries about 245 million adults are moderately underweight and 93 million severely underweigh

Explain fungal infections, Fungal Infections Intravenous infusion of am...

Fungal Infections Intravenous infusion of amphotericin B deoxycholate  frequently causes fever and chills, and sometimes headache, nausea, vomiting, hypotension and tachypnea,

Undescended testes (cryptorchidism), Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) ...

Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) Undescended testes is a ccmmon disorder. It may be unilateral and may be classified as ectopic cryptorchidism, when the testes are normal

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