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

Define subphylum chelicerata, Define Subphylum Chelicerata - classes Arachi...

Define Subphylum Chelicerata - classes Arachinda AM merostomata? The subphylum Chelicerata includes familiar horse shoe crab, spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites. 1. Body consis

TAKHTAJANS classification, comparison between takhtajans and natural classi...

comparison between takhtajans and natural classification

Protoplast, PROTOPLAST Cell without cell membrane (Henstein) It c...

PROTOPLAST Cell without cell membrane (Henstein) It contains 1 or more vacuoles. In mature plant cells protoplast forms a peripheral layer called Primordial utricle.

Absorption of glucose, Normal 0 false false false EN-IN...

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

Braiding technique for sp removal-endodontics principles, Braiding techniqu...

Braiding technique for SP removal: -    Three small size files inserted alongside the silver point. -    Files twisted together to engage silver point -    Withdraw the f

What are the major features of the meristematic cells, What are the major f...

What are the major features of the meristematic cells? And why do these cells need to have a high mitotic rate? The Meristematic cells have very thin cell walls, a well-central

Nocardiosis, Nocardiosis Nocardiae are aerobic, saprophytic, gram-posi...

Nocardiosis Nocardiae are aerobic, saprophytic, gram-positive, partially acid-fast filamentous bacteria. Currently, there are 30 species included within the genus. Members of

Simple squamous epithelium - stratified squamous epithelium, Q. How differe...

Q. How different is the simple squamous epithelium from the stratified squamous epithelium? Where can these epithelia are found in the human body? The simple squamous epitheliu

Explain difficult feeding and poor growth, Explain Difficult Feeding and Po...

Explain Difficult Feeding and Poor Growth to recognition of congenital heart disease? Difficult Feeding and Poor Growth: The parent of an infant with CHD may complain that the

Define discovery of other essential nutrients, Define Discovery of other Es...

Define Discovery of other Essential Nutrients? Following the identification of the food factors involved in beriberi, pellagra and scurvy, the search was on for other water-sol

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