Blood Vessels & Blood Flashcards

All 7 cards in this deck

Name the three types of blood vessel and state what each one does.

Arteries carry blood away from the heart; veins carry blood back to the heart; capillaries allow substances to be exchanged with the tissues.

How is the structure of an artery adapted to its function?

Thick walls of muscle and elastic tissue with a narrow lumen, to withstand and maintain high pressure.

How is the structure of a vein adapted to its function?

Thin walls, a wide lumen and valves to stop blood flowing backwards, because blood is at low pressure.

True or false? All arteries carry oxygenated blood.

False. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood; arteries are defined by carrying blood away from the heart.

Name the four components of blood and give the function of each.

Plasma – transports cells, dissolved food, carbon dioxide, urea and hormones; red blood cells – carry oxygen; white blood cells – defend against pathogens; platelets – help the blood clot.

How is a red blood cell adapted to its function?

Biconcave disc shape for a large surface area, no nucleus to make room for haemoglobin, which binds oxygen.

What are the steps to calculate the rate of blood flow?

e.g. 300 cm$^3$ of blood flows through a vessel in 5 minutes

1. Note the volume of blood: 300 cm$^3$
2. Divide the volume by the time taken: $300 \div 5$
3. Rate of blood flow = 60 cm$^3$/minute