blood vessels

Types

Arteries, Veins, capillaries

Arteries

Transport blood from heart and distribute it to various tissues of the body by means of their branches. Lack valves

Arterioles

Smallest arteries

Anastosmosis

Joining of branches of arteries

Anatomic end arteries

Vessels whose terminal branches do not anastomose with adjacent branches

Functional end arteries

Vessels whose terminal branches do anastomose

Veins

Vessels that transport blood back to the heart. Many possess valves

Venules

Smallest veins

Tributaries

Smaller veins that unite to form larger veins to form venous plexuses

Venae comitantes

Two veins on each side accompanying medium sized deep arteries

Portal vein

When veins leave the gastrointestinal tract, they converge there. Entering the liver and break up. Not directly at heart.

Sinusoids

Capillary-like vessels

Resemble capillaries but have irregular cross diameters and wider.

Found on bone marrow, spleen, liver, and endocrine glands

Portal system

System of vessels interposed between two capillary beds

Capilllaries

Microscopic vessels in the form of network connecting arterioles to the venules

Arteriovenous anastomoses

Connection sites of arteries and veins without capillaries