What are the components of the cardiovascular system?
Heart, blood vessels, blood
What is the function of blood vessels?
Circulate blood throughout the body
What type of tissue is blood?
A liquid connective tissue
Describe the structure of venules.
Tunica layers depend on type of venule (post capillary or muscular)
What are the functions of the cardiovascular system?
Transportation of substances, maintenance of homeostasis, protection
What are the 5 different types of blood vessels (in their correct order/hierarchy)
Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins
What does blood consist of?
Plasma (55%) and formed elements (45%) (WBCs, platelets, RBCs)
Describe the structure of veins
Contain all 3 tunica layers.
Thinner walls than those of arteries, larger lumen sizes.
Contain valves (especially in limbs)
What are the 3 structural types of capillaries?
Continuous - no gaps between cells
Fenestrated - cell membranes have small holes
Sinusoid - large and numerous holes with an incomplete basement membrane
Which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?
Arteries and arterioles
What is the lifespan of a RBC and a WBC?
RBC = 120 days
WBC = 20 days
Describe the structure of arterioles.
Contain all 3 tunica layers.
Thick walls relative to lumen size.
What are the 3 layers of vasculature (and their tissue layers)?
Tunica intima - endothelial layer, basement membrane, internal elastic lamina
Tunica media - smooth muscle, external elastic lamina
Tunica externa - connective tissue
Which blood vessels carry blood to the heart?
Veins and venules
Describe the structure of a capillary.
Only consists of an endothelial layer (one cell thick) and a basement membrane
Describe the structure of arteries
All 3 tunica layers.
Large diameter and thick walls.
Thick tunica media layer (elasticity and contractility)