Table 14.

3 Comparison of the structure and function of

scale).
an artery, capillary and vein (diagrams are not drawn to

Artery Vein
Capillary
Transports blood away from the heart.
Transports blood towards the heart. Link arteries to veins. Site of exchange
of materials between blood and tissues.
Tunica media thick and composed of
Tunica media relatively thin and only No tunica media. Only tissue present is
elastic and smooth muscle tissue.
slightly muscular. Few elastic fibres. squamous endothelium (section 6.3.1).
No elastic fibres.
No semilunar valves
leave heart).
(except where Semilunar valves at intervals along the No semilunar valves.
length to prevent backflow of blood.
Pressure of blood is high and has a
pulse Pressure of blood low and no pulse Pressure of blood falling and no pulse
detectable. detectable.
Blood flow rapid. Blood flow slow. Blood flow slowing.
Low blood volume. Much higher blood volume than High blood volume.
capillaries or arteries.
Blood oxygenated except in pulmonary Blood deoxygenated except in Mixed oxygenated and deoxygenated
artery. pulmonary vein. blood.
tunica externa of tunica externa of
/collagen fibres collagen fibres
lumen lumen

endothelial cell
Iunica media of smooth
tunica intima of tunica media of smooth tunica uscle tibres anci a few
endothelium muscle and elastic fibres intima tiastic fibres

(a)

thick wall
of artery

collagen fibres

blood cells

elastic
fibres and
smooth
muscl

Fig 14.3 (a) TS of an artery and a vein. (b) LS of a vein showing a valve.