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  1. 1-1-biological-molecules-carbohydrates
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  4. 1-4-proteins-enzymes
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  5. 1-5-nucleic-acids-structure-and-dna-replication
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  6. 1-6-atp-water-and-inorganic-ions
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  7. 2-1-cell-structure
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  8. 2-2-the-microscope-in-cell-studies
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  9. 2-3-cell-division-in-eukaryotic-and-prokaryotic-cells
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  10. 2-4-cell-membranes-and-transport
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  11. 2-5-cell-recognition-and-the-immune-system
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  12. 2-6-vaccines-disease-and-monoclonal-antibodies
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  13. 3-1-adaptations-for-gas-exchange
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  14. 3-2-human-gas-exchange
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  15. 3-3-digestion-and-absorption
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  16. 3-4-mass-transport-in-animals
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  17. 3-5-the-circulatory-system-in-animals
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  18. 3-6-mass-transport-in-plants
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  19. 4-1-dna-genes-and-chromosomes
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  20. 4-2-dna-and-protein-synthesis
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  21. 4-3-genetic-diversity-mutations-and-meiosis
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  22. 4-4-genetic-diversity-and-adaptation
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  23. 4-5-species-and-taxonomy
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  24. 4-6-biodiversity
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Exam code:7401

Arteries, arterioles & veins

  • The body contains different types of blood vessel, including:

    • arteries

    • arterioles

    • veins

  • The structure of each type of blood vessel is closely related to function

Blood vessel structure and function

Arteries

  • Transport blood away from the heart at high pressure

Cross-section diagram of an artery showing the lumen, muscle layer, endothelium, and tough outer coat, with labels for each part.
Arteries have features that allow them to carry blood from the heart at high pressure

Structure

Function

Thick walls containing smooth muscle and elastic fibres

Can withstand high pressures generated by the contracting heart

Elastic fibres allow stretch to expand around blood when heart beats

Elastic enables recoil to maintain blood pressure when the heart is relaxed

Narrow lumen

Helps to maintain high blood pressure

Folded inner lining (endothelium)

Can stretch to allow increased blood flow

Arterioles

  • Arteries branch into narrower blood vessels called arterioles which transport blood into capillaries

Diagram showing blood flow from artery to vein via arterioles, capillaries, and venules. Red indicates oxygenated, blue indicates deoxygenated blood.
Arterioles transport blood from the arteries to the capillaries

Structure

Function

Walls contain a lower proportion of elastic fibres and a large number of muscle cells

Pressure is lower than in arteries, so elasticity is less essential

Muscle can contract to adjust blood flow to specific organs, e.g. during exercise blood flow to the intestine is reduced while flow to the muscles increases

Veins

  • Veins transport blood back to the heart at low pressure

Cross-sectional diagram of a vein showing labelled parts: tough outer coat, endothelium, muscle layer, and lumen.
Veins do not need to withstand high pressure, but do contain valves to prevent backflow (not visible above)

Structure

Function

Walls are thin with fewer smooth muscle and elastic fibres

The blood in veins is not at high pressure, so thick walls with elastic recoil are not needed

Lumen is much larger than that of an artery

The large lumen allows a high volume of blood to flow through veins

Valves are present

Valves prevent backflow of blood

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Exam questions may ask you to explain the features of blood vessels; in this situation you should always make clear links between structural features and how they aid function.

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