Blood Vessel Types and Structure

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Questions and Answers

What is the term used to describe the layer composed of endothelial cells and the basement membrane?

Tunica Media
Tunica Intima (correct)
Basement Membrane
Tunica Externa

What type of muscle cells are found in the Tunica Media layer?

Epithelial Cells
Skeletal Muscle Cells
Cardiac Muscle Cells
Smooth Muscle Cells (correct)

What is the main function of the basement membrane?

To regulate blood pressure
To act as a scaffold for endothelial cells (correct)
To create a barrier for blood flow
To produce collagen

What is the term for the outermost layer of blood vessels?

Tunica Externa (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary component of the basement membrane?

Collagen (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of endothelial cells in blood vessels?

To interact with blood and regulate vessel tone (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Tunica Intima layer?

To interact with blood and regulate vessel tone (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the term 'Tunica Intima'?

From the Latin words for 'coat' and 'inner' (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of elastin protein in large and middle-sized arteries?

To make the arteries more elastic to high pressures (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which vessel type has a thin layer of smooth muscle in the tunica media?

Veins (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the small blood vessels that supply blood to large vessels?

Vasa vasorum (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the vessel has nerve endings?

Tunica externa (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between large and middle-sized arteries and small arteries and arterioles?

The presence of elastin protein (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which vessel type has three layers: tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica externa?

Both arteries and veins (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the tunica externa layer in large vessels?

To provide structural support to the vessel (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which protein is abundant in the tunica externa layer?

Collagen (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of the tunica media layer in small arteries and arterioles?

It has a large amount of smooth muscle cells (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is another term for the tunica externa layer?

Adventitia (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the small arteries and arterioles?

To change blood pressure by creating lots of resistance (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the structure of capillaries?

They have a single cell forming the entire wall of the tube (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the tunica externa in small arteries and arterioles?

To contain nerve endings and vasa vasorum (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the structure of veins and arteries?

The presence or absence of elastin in the tunica media (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the muscle in the tunica media of small arteries and arterioles?

To create resistance and change blood pressure (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the vasa vasorum in the tunica externa?

To provide nutrients and oxygen to the vessel walls (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the capillaries?

To facilitate gas exchange between the blood and surrounding tissue (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the tunica media in large and middle arteries?

It contains a lot of elastin (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Blood Vessels

A blood vessel has three layers: Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, and Tunica Externa.

Tunica Intima

The innermost layer of a blood vessel, consisting of endothelial cells and a basement membrane.
Endothelial cells are the first cells that blood interacts with.
The basement membrane is a thin layer of protein that keeps everything in place, containing proteins like collagen.

Tunica Media

The middle layer of a blood vessel, consisting of smooth muscle cells.
In large and middle-sized arteries, this layer is larger and contains elastin protein, making the arteries more elastic to handle high pressures.
In small arteries and arterioles, this layer has a lot of smooth muscle, allowing for constriction to create resistance and change blood pressure.

Tunica Externa

The outermost layer of a blood vessel, consisting of protein.
Contains collagen and other proteins.
Also known as Adventitia.
In large vessels, this layer has vasa vasorum (small blood vessels) and nerve endings.

Veins

Follow the general pattern of three layers (Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, and Tunica Externa).
Have a thin layer of smooth muscle in the Tunica Media.

Arteries

Can be divided into large and middle-sized arteries, and small arteries and arterioles.
Large and middle-sized arteries have a larger Tunica Media with elastin protein, making them more elastic.
Small arteries and arterioles have a larger Tunica Media with more smooth muscle, allowing for constriction to create resistance.

Capillaries

Have only one layer, consisting of a single endothelial cell that forms the entire wall of the tube.
Are unique in that they allow for the exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues.

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Description

Learn about the different types of blood vessels and their structure under the microscope, including the lumen and surrounding cells.