Types of Vessels - Arteries
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 9.3.1
Arteries
Arteries transport blood away 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.
Arterioles
- Arterioles connect arteries to capillaries.
Test yourself on Types of Vessels - Arteries
Which is the only artery that doesn't carry oxygenated blood?
How are artery walls adapted for their function?
Which of these are true of arterioles?