Circulatory System - Blood Vessels

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and structures related to blood vessels in the circulatory system.

Veins

Blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood from tissues to the heart.

Blood Flow in Veins

Blood is moved by skeletal muscle movement, with valves that prevent backflow and pressure changes in cavities during breathing.

Venules

Small veins that join capillaries.

Capillaries

Microscopic, one cell-thick vessels that connect arterioles and veins, and are the site of gas exchange between blood and body tissues.

Tunica Adventitia

The outer layer of blood vessel structure, consisting of connective tissue.

Tunica Media

The middle layer of blood vessel structure, made up of smooth muscle and elastic fibers.

Tunica Intima

The inner layer of blood vessel structure, consisting of a single layer of endothelial cells and basement membrane, along with connective tissue and an elastic internal membrane.