Bio163Ch13

Pulmonary Vessels

Transport blood from the right ventricle of the heart through the lungs and back to the left atrium.

Systemic Vessels

Transport blood from the left ventricle of the heart through all parts of the body and back to the right atrium.

Blood Vessel Functions

Carry blood, exchange nutrients, waste products, gases, transport substances, regulate blood pressure, direct blood flow to tissues.

Tunica Intima

The innermost layer of blood vessel walls, made of simple squamous epithelium.

Tunica Media

The middle layer of blood vessel walls, consisting of smooth muscle with elastic and collagen fibers.

Tunica Adventitia

The outermost layer of blood vessel walls, composed of connective tissue.

Elastic Arteries

Largest blood vessels with thick walls, such as the aorta and pulmonary trunk, allow recoil when stretched.

Muscular Arteries

Medium to small arteries that contain a thick layer of smooth muscle, controlling blood flow to body regions.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

A calculated value reflecting average arterial pressure in various vessels, important for maintaining blood flow.

Capillary Exchange

Most exchange across capillary walls occurs by diffusion, affected by blood pressure, capillary permeability, and osmosis.

Blood Pressure

The measure of force that blood exerts against blood vessel walls, with normal readings typically at 120/80 mm Hg.

Baroreceptor Reflexes

Responses activated by baroreceptors that react to stretch in arteries and help regulate blood pressure.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Mechanism

A hormonal mechanism that regulates blood pressure and volume by affecting kidney function and blood vessel constriction.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that increases water absorption in kidneys to maintain blood volume and pressure.

Arteriosclerosis

A condition that makes arteries less elastic, often related to aging.

Atherosclerosis

A type of arteriosclerosis caused by the deposition of materials (plaque) in artery walls.