Arteries and veins are the primary blood vessels in your circulatory system, yet they perform distinct roles.
Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart under high pressure, while veins return oxygen-poor blood to the heart under low pressure.
These functional differences are reflected in their structure.
Vessel composition
Arteries: Designed for High-Pressure Flow
High-Pressure Transport: Arteries are built to withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped directly from the heart.
Thick and Elastic Walls:
Their walls are thick and elastic, enabling them to stretch and recoil with each heartbeat.
This elasticity helps maintain blood pressure and ensures a steady flow of blood, even between heartbeats.
Example
The aorta, the largest artery in the body, exemplifies these characteristics with its robust and elastic structure.
Unlock the rest of this chapter with aFreeaccount
Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit
Definition
Paywall
(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.
anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Note
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.
Tip
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.
Questions
Recap questions
1 of 5
Question 1
Recap question
A vein graft is used to bypass a blocked coronary artery. Over time, the graft remodels under arterial pressures. Which structural adaptation is most likely?
End of article
Want a cheatsheet?
View a summary cheatsheet for B3.2 Transport
Lesson
Recap your knowledge with an interactive lesson
4 minute activity
Note
Functional Differences Between Arteries and Veins
Arteries and veins have different structures because they perform different functions in the circulatory system.
This is a great example of the biological principle that form follows function.
Arteries need to withstand high pressure
Veins need to prevent backflow of blood
TipWhen studying biological structures, always consider how their shape and features relate to their function.
Common MistakeDon't assume that all blood vessels look the same - their structures vary greatly depending on their specific roles.
ExampleThe thick walls of arteries help them withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped from the heart.