Which blood vessel has elastic walls?
Elastic arteries are those nearest the heart (aorta and pulmonary arteries) that contain much more elastic tissue in the tunica media than muscular arteries. This feature of the elastic arteries allows them to maintain a relatively constant pressure gradient despite the constant pumping action of the heart.
Do veins have elastic walls?
Blood is transported in arteries , veins and capillaries ….Structure and function of blood vessels.
| Arteries | Veins |
|---|---|
| Carry blood under high pressure | Carry blood under low or negative pressure |
| Have thick muscular and elastic walls to pump and accommodate blood | Have thin walls – have less muscular tissue than arteries |
Why arteries have elastic walls?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the different body parts. Blood emerges from the heart under high pressure. In order to withstand this pressure, arteries have thick and elastic walls.
Why do arteries have elastic walls?
An artery is a blood vessel that conducts blood away from the heart. All arteries have relatively thick walls that can withstand the high pressure of blood ejected from the heart. The elastic recoil of the vascular wall helps to maintain the pressure gradient that drives the blood through the arterial system.
Which blood vessels have thick muscular and elastic walls?
Arteries
- Carry blood away from the heart (always oxygenated apart from the pulmonary artery which goes from the heart to the lungs).
- Have thick elastic and muscular walls.
- Have small passageways for blood (internal lumen).
- Contain blood under high pressure.
Are arteries elastic?
Arteries are always under high pressure. To accommodate this stress, they have an abundance of elastic tissue and less smooth muscle. The presence of elastin in the large blood vessels enables these vessels to increase in size and alter their diameter.
Do arteries have elastic Fibres?
The arterial wall also contains an inner layer of muscle and elastic fibres to help maintain pulse flow (it can contract and stretch)
Which type of vessel contains valves?
Veins
Veins carry the blood back to the heart. They’re similar to arteries but not as strong or as thick. Unlike arteries, veins contain valves that ensure blood flows in only one direction.
What tissue are blood vessels made of?
The thick outermost layer of a vessel (tunica adventitia or tunica externa ) is made of connective tissue. The middle layer ( tunica media ) is thicker and contains more contractile tissue in arteries than in veins. It consists of circularly arranged elastic fibers, connective tissue, and smooth muscle cells.