1.2.2
Blood Vessels
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Arteries
Arteries are a type of blood vessel.
Thick walls
- Arteries are the largest in external (outer) diameter and have the thickest walls of all blood vessels.
- Because they have such thick walls, they have a slightly smaller lumen (internal diameter).
Can vasoconstrict and vasodilate
- During exercise, the body can vasoconstrict (make the lumen smaller) or vasodilate (make the lumen larger) to distribute blood efficiently.
- E.g. the arteries leading to the stomach will vasoconstrict to reduce blood flow to ‘non-essential’ organs. At the same time, the arteries leading to the working muscles will vasodilate to increase blood flow to where the blood is needed most at that time.
Elasticated walls
- Arteries are elasticated and thick. This lets them cope with the high pressures at which blood is pumped away from the thick, muscular ventricles of the heart. This is why you can feel a pulse in them.
- Think of the walls of arteries like elastic bands. They can stretch to cope with the high pressures from the heart but then return to their original shape and size. This prevents them from bursting.
Veins
Veins are another type of blood vessel.
Structure
- Veins have a large internal diameter (lumen) but thin walls as the pressure inside them is low.
- Veins have valves to prevent the backflow of blood, which is a possibility due to the lower pressures. This means that they do not have a pulse.
Function
- Veins carry blood towards the heart (mostly deoxygenated blood).
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Jump to other topics
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Practice questions on Blood Vessels
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- 1Characteristics of arteriesTrue / false
- 2Characteristics of veinsTrue / false
- 3Veins and arteries are types of...Multiple choice
- 4Characteristics of veinsFill in the list
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