14. Valves in the circulatory system ensure a one-way flow of blood.

 semi-lunar valves – present at the entrance to the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch prevent
the backflow of blood when the ventricles relax
 tricuspid valve in the right side of the heart – ensures a one-way blood flow from the right atrium
into the right ventricle
 bicuspid valve in the left side of the heart – ensures a one-way flow of blood from the left atrium
into the left ventricle

15. The table below summarises the comparison between the three types of blood vessels — arteries,
veins and capillaries.

Feature Artery Capillary Vein

Direction of blood flow From heart to the From arterioles to From capillaries to the
capillaries venules heart

Pressure High Low Low

Pulse to be found Present and can be felt None Absent

when an artery is close
to the surface

Valves Absent None Present

Position in the body Usually deep inside the Everywhere Close to the surface
body

Thickness of the wall Thick wall, small lumen One-cell thick Thin wall, large lumen

Oxygen carriage Carry oxygenated blood Average oxygen Carry deoxygenated

except for the content blood except the
pulmonary artery pulmonary vein

If cut Blood spurts out Blood trickles out Blood trickles out

Structure of the heart

artery to head
superior aortic arch
vena cava
pulmonary pulmonary arch
artery
left atrium
right atrium
caronary
artery

right ventricle left ventricle

inferior
vena cava dorsal aorta

(a) External view

‘O’ Level Biology 64