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Blood Vessels. Blood Vessels. Capillaries. Blood travels throughout the body in a series of blood vessels; Arteries , Capillaries , and Veins that each perform a specific function. Artery. Artery. Capillaries. Capillaries. Vein. Vein. Capillaries.
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Blood Vessels Capillaries • Blood travels throughout the body in a series of blood vessels; Arteries, Capillaries, and Veins that each perform a specific function. Artery Artery Capillaries Capillaries Vein Vein Capillaries
Arteries – Pipelines from the Heart • Carry blood away from the heart. • Main transporters of oxygenated blood. • Have very thick walls of stiff connective tissue and smooth muscle. • Because of the pressure the heart needs to beat and send blood throughout the body. • Very elastic allowing them to expand.
Capillaries – Unseen Pipelines • The smallest blood vessels • Connect arteries and veins. • Only one cell thick – “Swiss Cheese” • Site of exchange between blood and cells. • Diffusion of oxygen and nutrients into the cells. • Diffusion of carbon dioxide and wastes away from the cells.
Veins – Pipelines to the Heart • Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. • High in carbon dioxide and waste products. • Thin walls of connective tissue and smooth muscle. • Contain one-way valves to keep blood from flowing backward. • Contractions of skeletal muscles move the blood inside the veins.
Veins vein vein
Blood Pressure • Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. • The force is strongest when your heart contracts and weakest when your heart relaxes. • Two locations you can feel your pulse at: • Your neck • Your wrist
Blood Pressure • Blood pressure is read as two numbers: • Systolicpressure – the pressure on the artery when the ventricles contract. • Diastolic pressure – Pressure on the artery when the ventricles relax. • Normal blood pressure would be 120 over 80.
Chart Questions: • Where is the blood pressure reading the strongest? • Is this person’s blood pressure normal? • What’s the systolic reading? • What’s the diastolic reading? • Where is the blood pressure the weakest? Arteries Yes 120 80 Veins