Blood Vessels - Arteries
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 2.3.2
Arteries
Arteries transport blood from the heart to the organs. They all carry oxygenated (contains oxygen) blood (apart from the pulmonary artery). Their structure is adapted to perform their function in the body:
Thick muscle walls
- Artery walls have thick layers of muscle. This makes them strong and able to cope with the high pressure at which blood is pumped out by the heart.
Elastic fibres
- The walls have elastic fibres, allowing them to stretch and spring back (recoil).
Test yourself on Blood Vessels - Arteries
Why do artery walls contain elastic fibres?
Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, unlike other arteries?
Why do artery walls contain thick layers of muscle?