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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the vasa vasorum?
What is the primary function of the vasa vasorum?
What is the characteristic of continuous capillaries?
What is the characteristic of continuous capillaries?
What is unique about sinusoids?
What is unique about sinusoids?
What is the function of arteriovenous anastomoses?
What is the function of arteriovenous anastomoses?
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What is the characteristic of elastic arteries?
What is the characteristic of elastic arteries?
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What is the function of veins?
What is the function of veins?
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What is the characteristic of muscular arteries?
What is the characteristic of muscular arteries?
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What is the function of the tunica externa?
What is the function of the tunica externa?
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What is the characteristic of capillaries?
What is the characteristic of capillaries?
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What is the function of fenestrated capillaries?
What is the function of fenestrated capillaries?
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What is the primary function of the circulatory system?
What is the primary function of the circulatory system?
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Which of the following is NOT a part of the cardiovascular system?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the cardiovascular system?
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What is the primary function of arterioles?
What is the primary function of arterioles?
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Which type of blood vessel is responsible for exchanging oxygen and nutrients with interstitial fluid?
Which type of blood vessel is responsible for exchanging oxygen and nutrients with interstitial fluid?
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What is the outermost layer of the circulatory system?
What is the outermost layer of the circulatory system?
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What is the function of the internal elastic lamina in some vessels?
What is the function of the internal elastic lamina in some vessels?
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What type of fibers are found in the tunica media?
What type of fibers are found in the tunica media?
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What is the purpose of the external elastic lamina in some vessels?
What is the purpose of the external elastic lamina in some vessels?
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What is the main function of postcapillary venules?
What is the main function of postcapillary venules?
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Which type of vein has a thicker tunica media?
Which type of vein has a thicker tunica media?
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What is the main function of vein valves?
What is the main function of vein valves?
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What is a characteristic of large veins?
What is a characteristic of large veins?
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What is a difference between arteries and veins?
What is a difference between arteries and veins?
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What is a characteristic of muscular venules?
What is a characteristic of muscular venules?
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Which type of vein has a higher content of collagen?
Which type of vein has a higher content of collagen?
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What is a characteristic of medium-sized veins?
What is a characteristic of medium-sized veins?
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Study Notes
The Circulatory System
- The circulatory system is a transport system that carries blood and lymph to and from the tissues of the body.
- It consists of the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system.
Cardiovascular System
- The cardiovascular system includes the heart and vessels (arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins).
- There are five classes of blood vessels: • Arteries: carry blood away from the heart • Arterioles: smallest branches of arteries • Capillaries: smallest blood vessels, site of exchange between blood and interstitial fluid • Venules: collect blood from capillaries • Veins: return blood to the heart
- Macrovasculature (>0.1mm) and microvasculature (interchanges) are parts of the cardiovascular system.
Common Structure of Blood Vessels
- The wall of the circulatory system is composed of three layers: • Tunica intima: innermost layer, includes endothelial lining and connective tissue layer • Tunica media: middle layer, contains smooth muscle and elastic fibers • Tunica externa (adventitia): outer layer, contains connective tissue
Tunica Intima
- The innermost layer, includes endothelial lining and connective tissue layer
- In some vessels (arteries and large veins), there is a layer of elastic fibers in the outer margin of the tunica intima called the internal elastic lamina.
Tunica Media
- The middle layer, contains concentric sheets of smooth muscle in loose connective tissue with variable amounts of elastic and reticular fibers.
Tunica Externa
- The outer layer, contains connective tissue sheath principally of collagen (type I) and elastic fibers.
Vasa Vasorum
- A system of vessels that supplies blood to the vascular walls themselves, found in tunica media and tunica externa of large arteries and veins.
Capillaries
- The smallest blood vessels, with small diameter and thin walls
- Chemicals and gases diffuse across the walls
- No tunica media and externa, endothelial cell inside a thin basal lamina and pericytes
Types of Capillaries
- Continuous capillaries: have a complete endothelial lining, found in all tissues except epithelia and cartilage
- Fenestrated capillaries: have pores in the endothelial lining, permit rapid exchange of water and larger solutes
- Discontinuous (sinusoids): enlarged diameter, endothelial cells with wide spaces, basal lamina is discontinuous, permit free exchange of water and large plasma proteins between blood and interstitial fluid.
Arteriovenous Anastomoses & Glomus
- Direct connections between arterioles and venules, bypassing the capillary bed
- Found in skeletal muscle and skin of the hands and feet, and tissue with intermittent metabolic activity
Artery Characteristics
- From the heart to capillaries, arteries change from elastic arteries to muscular arteries to arterioles
- Elastic arteries have many elastic fibers and few muscle cells
- Muscular arteries have many muscle cells and few elastic fibers
- Arterioles have little or no tunica externa and thin or incomplete tunica media
Veins
- Collect blood from capillaries in tissues and organs and return blood to the heart
- Three categories based on size: small veins (venules), medium-sized veins, and large veins
- Small veins collect blood from capillaries and are divided into postcapillary venules and muscular venules
- Medium-sized veins have a thin tunica media and few smooth muscle cells, with valves to prevent blood from flowing backward
- Large veins have all three tunica layers, thin tunica media, and thick tunica externa with longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle and elastic fibers
Arteries vs. Veins
- Arteries have thicker walls and higher blood pressure
- Arteries are more elastic
- Veins have a higher content of collagen than arteries
- Collapsed artery has a small, round lumen, while a vein has a large, flat lumen
- Veins have valves, are larger in diameter, and have thinner walls
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Description
Learn about the circulatory system, its functions, and its two main components - cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. Understand the importance of the heart, vessels, and lymphatic vessels in this system.