T.A.

MARRYSHOW COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SCHOOL OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE
YEAR 2 BIOLOGY

LAB # 10

SKILL: Drawing (DRW)

TITLE: Electron Micrograph of an artery and a vein

AIM: To examine and draw the structures of an artery and a vein from an electron micrograph.

THEORY:
In mammals blood circulates around the body in a continuous system of blood vessels. From the
heart, blood travels in the arteries and arterioles, into capillaries supplying tissues, and then
returns to the heart in the venules and veins. Arteries close to the heart have a large cross
sectional area, and thick elastic walls to withstand the high blood pressure. Further from the
heart, the arteries branch into smaller arterioles which offer a greater resistance to the flow of the
blood. The arterioles penetrate all tissues of the body and connect to beds of finely branching
capillaries. Capillaries join up to form venules, which in turn join to form veins which return the
blood to the heart. The individual veins have a larger cross sectional area than the comparable
arteries. The walls of the veins are thinner and less elastic than those of the arteries, and in the
veins of the legs and the arms there are semi lunar or pocket valves at intervals along their
length. These valves oppose any back flow of blood under gravity and ensure one way flow of
blood to the heart.

MATERIALS:

Electron Micrographs
 Drawing materials

PROCEDURE:
1. Make a detailed drawing of the specimen
2. Calculate the magnification of your drawings.
3. Label and annotate.
Artery

Vein