Question

Explain and provide details of the anatomic differences in arteries versus veins and how this affects their physiological role in the circulatory system of animals.

Answer 1

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart. They are thick and contain more elastic material which allows them to expand when high pressure blood reach the arteries from the heart. They have no valves. They are muscular are also has high high elastin and less collagen. They have narrow lumen so that with the high pressure they can conduct the blood through them so fast. The tunica external is not much developed and not much strong. Tunica media has more elastic fibres and tunica interna has elongated endothelial cells and have elastic materials. These all help in the elastic property of the arteries that work under high pressure.

Veins are blood vessels that takes blood to heart. They contain valves. They supply blood to heart from different parts. As it does not work with the pressure difference it uses the vlave system to transport blood especially from the lower body. They have wider lumen for easy transport of blood to the heart. They have more collagen which makes them stiff and have less elastin. The walls are thin as they not made to withstand high pressure. Tunica external is much developed and are string. Tunica media has less elastic fibres. In tunica interna the endothelial cells are flat and have less elastic fibres. This helps in the easy conduction of blood to the heart.