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

Deciduous senescence - senescence, Deciduous Senescence - Senescence O...

Deciduous Senescence - Senescence Only the leaves senesce as in many trees. The senescence of leaves, or abscission occurs when at the base of a leaf a layer of cells is laid

Explain left atrial enlargement, Q. Explain Left Atrial Enlargement ? T...

Q. Explain Left Atrial Enlargement ? This chamber is oval in the frontal projection and flattened in lateral projection. On the PA view, its appendage makes a small contributio

What is acute aortic regurgitation, Q. What is Acute Aortic Regurgitation? ...

Q. What is Acute Aortic Regurgitation? Infective endocarditis, aortic dissection and trauma often produce severe AR. Acute increase in left ventricular end diastolic volume es

How are living beings divided into two groups, According to cellular organi...

According to cellular organization how are living beings divided into two groups? Cellular beings are separated into two groups: the prokaryotes, unicellular beings whose sole

Ground water, Ground Water Ground water represents a major subterranean...

Ground Water Ground water represents a major subterranean reservoir of fresh water. In general. it is not tapped by plants as it is too deep and does not suffer from loss due t

Process of asexual reproduction, What name is given to the population of ge...

What name is given to the population of genetically identical offspring which result from a process of asexual (vegetative) reproduction?   The population of genetically id

Entropy, ENTROP Y - Transfer of energy takes place from high energy...

ENTROP Y - Transfer of energy takes place from high energy level to low energy level. Rudol f clausius gave this term. During it there is collision of particles, r

What is waist-to-hip ratio, What is Waist-to-Hip Ratio? Waist-to-Hip Ra...

What is Waist-to-Hip Ratio? Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is defined as the measurement of waist circumference divided by hip circumference. For example, if a person's waist measure

What are the major negative ions found in living beings, Q. What are the ...

Q. What are the major negative ions found in living beings? The main anions found in living beings are the chlorine anion (Cl - ), the sulphate anion (SO - ), the nitrate ani

Define class turbellaria - flatworms, Define Class Turbellaria - Flatworms ...

Define Class Turbellaria - Flatworms ? Members of these two Classes are known as the flukes. Flukes are parasitic flatworms that inhabit tropical areas like Southeast Asia and

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