B3 Tissue structure and function

KEY IDEA:
Arteries and veins carry blood to and from organs in
the body.

19. Arteries and veins

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

You
LO1: MUST describe the functions of arteries and veins
LO2: SHOULD describe and explain the differences in
their structure
LO3: COULD investigate and explain differences in elastic
recoil of arteries and veins.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/
triple_aqa/transport_systems/blood_system/revision
/4
/
Arteries and veins

Guide to blood vessels

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Identifying blood vessels

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Blood flow in veins

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Varicose veins
If a vein wall becomes weakened, valves
may no longer close properly. This allows
backflow of blood, causing the vein to
become enlarged and bumpy, and
become varicose.
This usually happens in superficial
veins, near the skin surface in the
lower legs, as opposed to deep
veins, which lie underneath muscles.
Varicose veins can be surgically
removed without affecting blood flow,
as most blood is returned to the heart
by deep veins.
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Maintaining high blood pressure

Blood pressure is the main force that drives blood from the
heart around the body.

During systole (heart contraction), blood is pumped

through the aorta and other arteries at high pressure. The
elastic fibres of arteries enable them to expand and allow
blood through.

During diastole (heart relaxation), the blood pressure in

the arteries drops. The elastic recoil of the artery walls
help force the blood on.

As blood moves through smaller arterioles into capillaries,

and then into venules and veins, its velocity and pressure
drop continuously.
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Arteries, capillaries and veins

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Elastic recoil in arteries and veins

The objectives of this activity are for
you:
to practise experimental skills
to explore the elastic properties of
the major blood vessels

to
relate
biological
structure
to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_-hUlmpbY Elastic recoil with a balloon.
function.

Mass
added (g)

a. Suspend a ring of blood vessel from a paperclip hook

on a clamp stand. Attach a mass carrier to the bottom
end of the ring. Use a ruler to record the length of the
ring of blood vessel with the mass carrier attached.
This is the original length for the calculation below.
b. Attach a 10 g mass and record the new length of the
blood vessel ring in a suitable table.
c. Remove the mass and record the length of the ring.

Length of vein
(mm)

Vein
with
mass
added

Vein
with
mass
remove
d

0
(original
length)

21

21

10

36

36

20

38

37

30

40

39

40

41

39

50

41

41