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From MyMCAT

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Arteries 3 Capillaries 4 Veins 5 Oxygenated versus DeOxygenated Blood

Introduction

Blood is transported throughout the body by means of arteries, veins and capillaries. Each of these transport vessels has a different tissue composition with particular utility to suite their different functions.

Arteries

Blood is pumped away from the heart through arteries, and as such, they are designed to be strong enough to withstand the high pressure of the beating heart. Arteries have thick elastic and muscle tissue allowing them to be elastic in response to the repetitive beating of the heart. As they get smaller, arteries branch into arterioles.

Capillaries

Designed to maximize nutrient and waste exchange, capillaries are extremely thin and branch heavily, intertwining with the tissues they feed.

Veins

As the capillaries begin to leave their target tissues they begin to branch into veinules and finally into veins. Because veins do not need to deal with the strong forces experienced by the beating heart, they are inelastic and lack thick muscle tissue. To keep the blood from pooling or reversing flow, veins have periodic valves.

Oxygenated versus DeOxygenated Blood

With the exception of the arteries that lead to the lungs (pulmonary arteries), all the blood found in them carry oxygenated blood. Similarly, with the exception of the blood leaving the lungs and entering the heart, all the veins carry deoxygenated blood.

When examining arteries and veins, always remember that arteries carry blood away (Arteries -> Away) from the heart and veins carry blood back (Veins -> Drain) to the heart.