Blood Vessels

The three main types of blood vessels are:

(a) Arteries – Vessels that carry blood away from the heart to body organs. Arteries branch into
arterioles and then into capillaries.
(b) Capillaries – Microscopic vessels that connect between the arteries and veins. They converge
into venules which converge into veins. They form networks called capillary beds that are
present in most body tissues.
(c) Veins – Vessels that return blood to the heart

Structure of artery, capillary and vein

7.9 Blood vessels and their functions

1. Arteries are blood vessels which carry blood away from the heart.
2. They have thick, muscular and elastic walls that can withstand the surge of the high
pressure blood pumped out of the heart.
3. The arterial wall is divided into three layers. The outer layer is a protective layer
consisting of connective tissue and elastic fibre. The middle layer consists of smooth muscle
and more elastic fibres and the innermost layer next to the lumen consists of the
endothelium, a single layer of flattened cells.
4. All arteries carry oxygenated blood with the exception of the pulmonary arteries.
5. Arteries split up into arterioles which are structurally similar to arteries but smaller in
diameter.
6. Arterioles control blood flow into capillary beds by:
(a) Contracting the smooth muscle layer in the arteriole wall.
(b) Using sphincters, which are bands of smooth muscle located where arterioles
branch into capillaries. Contraction prevents blood flow into capillary beds.
7. Capillaries are microscopic vessels with walls that are only one-cell thick. Their
walls consist of a layer of flattened cells called endothelial cells.
8. The endothelium is partially permeable, allowing diffusion to occur.
9. Capillaries branch to form networks called capillary beds, which infiltrate almost all
tissues, allowing exchange of substances to take place.
10. The extensive branching increases the total cross-sectional area of the vessels,
lowering the blood pressure in the capillaries and hence the rate of blood flow, giving
more time for the exchange of substances.
11. Capillaries converge into venules which are small vessels structurally similar to
veins.
12. Venules converge to form veins.
13. Similar to arterial walls, the walls of veins consist of three layers.
14. However, the middle wall contains much less smooth muscle and elastic fibres.
Hence they are not as thick, muscular or elastic as arteries. Therefore, a vein has a
larger lumen as compared to an artery with the same external diameter.
15. The blood pressure in the veins is much lower than that of the arteries. Blood flows
more slowly and smoothly so there is no need for thick, muscular and elastic walls.
16. Blood flow through the veins is assisted by the presence of semi-lunar valves and
skeletal muscle action.
17. When we move, our skeletal muscles pinch the veins and move blood through them.
18. Blood is prevented from flowing backwards by the semi-lunar valves. Blood moving
backwards causes the valves to close.
19. Veins carry blood back to the heart. The exceptions are portal veins, which carry
blood between two capillary beds, e.g. the hepatic portal vein.
20. Veins carry deoxygenated blood with the exception of the pulmonary veins.
Questions

(c) Table 5.2 shows the blood pressure in the different blood vessels that supply and drain a
muscle in the leg.

Table 5.2

blood vessel mean blood pressure / kPa

aorta 13
femoral artery 12
distributing / muscular artery 9
arteriole in muscle 6
capillary in muscle 4–1.3
venule in muscle 1.1
femoral vein < 1.0

(i) The table shows that the mean blood pressure decreases from 13 kPa in the aorta to
6 kPa in the arterioles.

Explain why blood pressure must decrease in the arterioles before entering the
capillaries.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) Explain how blood returns to the heart in the femoral vein against the pull of gravity.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[3]
(d) Fig. 5.1 shows a section across part of an artery.

Fig. 5.1

With reference to Fig. 5.1, explain how the structure of an artery is related to its function.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[3]

[Total: 14]
2 Mammals have a double circulatory system. Blood flows between:

• the heart and the lungs

• the heart and the rest of the body (systemic circulation).

(a) Fig. 4.1 shows a cross-section of an artery.

Fig. 4.1

Explain how the structure of an artery, as shown in Fig. 4.1, is related to its functions.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[4]
 (b) Fig. 4.2 shows the total cross-sectional area of the blood vessels in the systemic circulation. It
also shows the changes that occur in blood pressure and the speed (velocity) of blood in the
different blood vessels.

aorta vena cava

tissue fluid

4000

3000
total cross-
sectional area
of the blood
2000
vessels / cm2

1000

15
14 pressure
mean blood 13 speed of the
pressure / kPa 12 blood / cm s–1
11
10 50
9 velocity
8 40
7
6 30
5
4 20
3
2 10
1
0 0
aorta arterioles veins
arteries capillaries vena cava

Fig. 4.2
 (i) State the maximum mean blood pressure in the aorta.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Describe how mean blood pressure and speed of blood change with cross-sectional
area of blood vessels, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

blood pressure ...................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

speed of blood ...................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[3]

(c) Describe how substances move from the blood in the capillaries into the tissue fluid.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[3]

(d) Blood flows from arteries into arterioles before entering capillaries.

Explain the role of the arterioles in the skin when a person is very cold.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[3]

[Total: 14]
3 Blood is distributed through the body of a mammal in blood vessels. The blood supply to
muscles changes considerably at the start and at the end of exercise.

Fig. 4.1 shows a cross section of a blood vessel as seen with an electron microscope.

cell X

liquid Y

Fig. 4.1

(a) Name:

(i) cell X;

[1]

(ii) liquid Y;

[1]

(iii) the type of blood vessel shown in Fig. 4.1.

[1]

(b) State three substances that move across the wall of the blood vessel at Z.

3 [3]
(c) Table 4.1 shows the distribution of blood to different organs at rest and during exercise.

Table 4.1

blood flow / cm3 per minute

percentage
regions of the body
during strenuous change / %
at rest
exercise
heart muscle 250 750 200

kidneys
i 200 600 -5

skeletal muscles 1 000 12 500

skin
kin 1 900 375

liver and alimentary canal 1 400 600 -5

brain
rain 750 0

others
ther 400 --3

total 5 600 17 500 213

(i) Calculate the percentage change in the blood supply to the skeletal muscles.

Show your working.

Write your answer in Table 4.1.

[1]
(ii) Explain why it is necessary for the blood supply to muscles to increase during
exercise.

[5]

(iii) The volume of blood to different organs varies as shown in Table 4.1.

During exercise, blood flow to the skin increases and to the kidneys decreases.

Describe the changes that occur in blood vessels to cause blood flow to increase
and to decrease.

increase blood flow

decrease blood flow

[4]

[Total: 16]
1 Fig. 5.1 shows a capillary inside a tissue.

lining of
capillary red blood cell

blood
flow
S
R

cell in tissue
Q

tissue fluid

Fig. 5.1
(a)
a) State how oxygen passes from the capillary into cell Q and describe the function of
this gas in a cell.

[2]

(ii) Name two substances required by cells, other than oxygen, that pass from the
blood to the tissue fluid at R.

1.

2. [1]

(iii) Name two substances produced by cells that pass from the tissue fluid to the
blood at S.

1.

2. [1]

(b) With reference to Fig. 5.1, describe and explain two ways in which capillaries are
adapted to their function.

1.

2.

[4]

(c) Tissue fluid drains into vessel P at T and eventually returns to the blood.

(i) Name the type of vessel labelled P.

[1]

(ii) Explain how fluid passes along these vessels.

[1]

[Total: 10]
1 (a Mammals have a double circulatory system.

Explain what is meant by a double circulatory system.

[1]

Fig. 4.1 shows sections of three blood vessels: an artery, a capillary and a vein.

artery capillary vein

Fig. 4.1

(b) State one function for each of the blood vessels shown in Fig. 4.1.

artery

capillary

vein

[3]
(c) Explain how the structure of the artery shown in Fig. 4.1 is adapted to its function.

[4]

(d) Explain how valves help the transport of blood in veins.

[2]

[Total: 10]