Heart definitions

arteries

carry blood away from the heart

capillaries

involved in te exchange of materials at the tissues

veins

these carry the blood to the heart

arteries information

carry blood under high pressure so they have strong and elastic walls. The elastic fibres allow the artery to expand. The walls are thicker compared to the lumen (hole) so they contain thick layers of muscle to make them strong. The largest artery is the aorta. They have connective tissues which provides strength.

veins information

capillaries join up to make veins. there is lower blood pressure so the walls are thinner than arteries, they have a bigger lumen to help blood flow despite low pressure. they have valves. the largest vein is the vena cava

capillaries information

arteries branch into capillaries. these are much smaller and carry blood close to cells to exchange substances with them. they have permeable walls so substances can diffuse in and out. they supply food and oxygen and take away carbon dioxide and other waste products. their walls are one cell thick so rate of diffusion increases.

veins carry

deoxygenated blood except for pulmonary vein

arteries carry

oxygenated blood except for pulmonary artery

arteries direction

away from heart

veins direction

to heart

pulmonary

lungs

hepatic

liver

renal

kidneys

hepatic portal vein

blood from gut to liver to heart