Blood Vessels - Capillaries
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 2.3.3
Capillaries
Arteries branch into much smaller vessels, called capillaries. Capillaries have thin walls and pass very close to the body cells. This means that there can be an efficient exchange of:
Food and oxygen
- In capillaries, food and oxygen moves out of the blood and into the cells.
Waste products
- In capillaries, waste products, such as carbon dioxide, move out of the cells and into the blood.
Test yourself on Blood Vessels - Capillaries
Why do arteries branch into capillaries throughout the body?
Why is it important that capillaries allow substances to move in both directions between blood and body cells?
What would happen if capillary walls became thicker?
What would happen to body cells if the exchange of substances at capillaries became less efficient?
What would happen to the exchange of substances if capillaries did not pass close to body cells?