Transport Systems

Structure of blood vessels

Objectives
You must be able to:
 describe the structure of blood vessels
 outline the differences among blood vessels

Introduction
In plant transport system we learnt that water and minerals are transported by vessels called
the xylem and food made in the leaves is also transported to other parts which cannot
photosynthesize by another vessel called phloem. Your understanding of transport system
will facilitate your understanding of the functions of blood and the structure of blood vessels.
It is important for you to understand the following terms before attempting this item.
Arteries
-are elastic vessels strong enough to carry blood from the heart.
Capillaries
-are the smallest vessels running throughout the body linking the arteries and veins
Veins
- are large elastic vessels that carry blood from the body back to the heart
Structure of blood vessels
The heart`s function is assisted by the vessels. Can you name the vessels you learnt? Well, we
hope you said the pulmonary vein and the pulmonary artery. In this chapter we shall be
looking at the structure of the vessels.

Artery
- The function of the artery is to carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
 Cross section of an artery

- Arteries have thick tough wall with muscles, elastic fibres and fibrous tissue. This prevents
bursting since they carry at high pressure and help maintains pressure wave. Elastic fibres
allow them to withstand the surges of high pressure caused by heartbeat.
- The lumen is quite narrow. This helps to maintain blood pressure
- Valves are absent. High pressure prevents backflow of blood
Vein
The function of the heart is to carry deoxygenated blood to the heart

Cross of a vein
- Veins are thin walled
- Mainly fibrous tissue, with little muscle or elastic fibre. This is because they carry
blood at low pressure.
- They have large lumens to reduce resistance to blood flow
- Valves are present to prevent backflow of blood. Contraction of body muscles
compresses the veins assisting the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart

Capillaries
 A capillary
- Capillaries allow oxygen and food molecules to diffuse into cells and wastes out of
the cell.
- Capillaries have permeable walls which are one cell thick, with no muscle or elastic
tissue to allow diffusion of materials between capillary and surrounding tissues.
- The lumen is very small to allow blood cells to squeeze through. Blood cells pass
through slowly to allow diffusion of materials and tissue fluid.
- Valves are absent as blood is still under pressure though the pressure is lower than in
arteries

Arteries, veins and capillaries comparison

Just like arteries, Veins have three layers. You need to notice that veins however have a
thicker outer layer. Also notice that the inner layer is thinner as compared to that of the
arteries since veins carry blood from the body which has less pressure. Blood pressure is also
reduced the veins have a larger lumen as compared to the arteries. Veins have valves that
prevent blood from flowing back but forcing it to flow in one direction.
As veins and arteries move away from the body, they branch into smaller branches forming
capillaries. These can be described as the smallest blood vessels that reach all body tissues.
The wall of capillaries is made up of only one layer which is one cell thick. The layer allows
absorption and loss of substances in and out of the capillary. Oxygen and nutrients diffuse out
of the capillaries into tissues while carbon dioxide and waste diffuse out of tissues into the
capillaries
The diagram below shows an artey, cappillary and a vein
Activity
1) Name 3 vessels described in this item.
2) What are the functions of the vessels?
3) Draw and label the vessels you learnt in this item.
4) Give any two substances that diffuse out of the capillaries to the body tissues