Blood Vessels

Anastomosis - alternate routes of blood flow created by the joining of blood vessels

 \n

Arteriole - tiny arteries that provide blood to capillaries

 \n

Artery - blood vessels moving blood away from the heart

 \n

Blood pressure - arterial pressure of the blood; the fluid pressure of the blood in the arteries

 \n

Capillary - blood vessels the size of a single blood cell that allows for the exchange of nutrients and oxygen

 \n

Hepatic portal system - the system where the blood from the arteries going to the digestive organs flows through a bed of capillaries that connect to the liver, where it flows into a vein

 \n

Peripheral resistance - the resistance of the arterial system

 \n

Pulmonary circuit - the loop of arteries and veins that transports blood between the heart and the lungs

 \n

Pulse pressure - the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures

 \n

Respiratory pump - the process of inhalation causing blood to flow into the lungs and exhalation causing blood to flow into the right atrium

 \n

System circuit - the loop of arteries and veins that transports blood between the heart and the body

 \n

Valve - folds of endothelium that prevent backflow of the blood

 \n

Vasoconstriction - when the muscle cells in the blood vessel contract

 \n

Vasodilation - when the muscle cells in the blood vessel relax and the vessel expands

 \n

Vein - blood vessels that bring blood back to the heart

 \n

Venule - the smallest veins that connect the capillaries to bigger veins