Animal Transport Systems

Blood Vessels
 Blood Vessels
• There are three main types of blood vessels
i/ Arteries
ii/ Veins
iii/ Capillaries
ARTERIES
 ARTERIES

ARTERIOLES
 ARTERIES

ARTERIOLES

CAPILLARIES
 ARTERIES

ARTERIOLES

CAPILLARIES

VENULES
 ARTERIES

ARTERIOLES

CAPILLARIES

VENULES

VEINS
 Blood Vessels
ARTERIES
• Carry blood away from the heart
• Thick muscular walls
• Lots of elastic tissue in wall
• Relatively small lumen
• Blood under high pressure
• Blood flow rapid
• Blood flows in pulses
• No valves
ARTERIES
artery outer layer
ARTERIES
artery outer layer
ARTERIES

thick
smooth
muscle
artery outer layer
ARTERIES

elastic white thick

fibrous tissue smooth
muscle
artery outer layer
ARTERIES

elastic white thick

fibrous tissue smooth
muscle

inner lining
(endothelium)
 Arteries
• The elastic tissue in the artery wall allows the
vessel to ‘give’ as blood surges through.
• So, the artery wall first stretches as a result of the
high blood pressure,
• before an elastic recoil of the wall pushes the
blood on its way.
• This swelling can be felt as a pulse where arteries
travel near the skin surface.
 Blood Vessels
VEINS
• Carry blood back to the heart
• Thin muscular walls
• Little elastic tissue in the wall
• Relatively large lumen
• Blood under low pressure
• Blood flow is slow
• No pulse
• Valves prevent backflow of blood
Vein
Vein

outer layer
Vein

outer layer

thin smooth
muscle
Vein inner lining
(endothelium)
outer layer

thin smooth
muscle
Vein inner lining
valve (endothelium)
outer layer

thin smooth
muscle
 VEINS
How the semi-lunar valve
works in a vein:
• The blood has just enough
pressure to force the valve
open as it flows towards
the heart
• Backflow of blood causes
the valves to close
 Blood Vessels
CAPILLARIES
• Link up arteries and veins in the tissues
• No muscle
• Wall made up of one cell thick endothelium
• Small lumen – just large enough for a red blood cell to squeeze
through
• Pressure falls as blood passes along capillary
• Blood flowing is slowing down
• No pulse
• No valves