Bio 20: ArteriesBy: Travis Vande Munt

Diagram of Arteries

Artery Facts

• The arteries carry oxygenated blood out of the heart and throughout the rest of our bodies• They carry nutrients and oxygen to muscle cells as well as

all other cells within the body• There is one artery that does not carry oxygenated blood:

pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs so that the blood can become oxygenated• The largest artery is the aorta• The arteries also contain arterioles as well as capilliaries

Artery Structure

•  Each artery is a muscular tube lined by smooth tissue and has three layers:• The intima, the inner layer lined by a smooth tissue called

endothelium• The media, a layer of muscle that lets arteries handle the

high pressures from the heart• The adventitia, connective tissue anchoring arteries to

nearby tissues

Circulatory System

• The arteries are part of the circulatory system• The circulatory system contains arteries, arterioles,

capillaries, veins, veinules, heart, and blood.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

• The (ANS) is the part of the nervous system that controls the motor nerves that regulate equilibrium, and that is not under conscious control• Vasoconstriction- the narrowing of blood vessels allowing

less blood to the tissues• Vasodilation- the widening of blood vessels allowing more

blood to the tissues• This is the pulse you feel when holding your hand up

against the carotid artery

How they work?

• Arteries contain elastic like material helping blood pulsate and move throughout the body• They carry oxygenated red blood cells (RBC), white blood

cells, plasma, and nutrients throughout the body• Once these oxygenated RBC reach the capillaries they

release oxygen and nutrients through osmotic pressure which are then distributed to the cells. The blood then enters the veins and returns to the heart

Atherosclerosis

• This is a degeneration of blood vessels caused by the accumulation of fat deposits in the inner wall of the artery• This causes blood clots which can cause high blood

pressure and possibly damage the artery• This can cause heart attacks and strokes because the brain

or heart cannot receive enough oxygen because the artery is clogged meaning little to no blood is passing through causing these organs to slowly die

Aneurysm

• This is a bulge in a weakened wall of a blood vessel, usually an artery• The most common site of this is in the aorta of the heart,

abdominal aorta, and arteries towards the brain• Aneurysms are often due to atherosclerosis• This can cause arteries to rupture potentially leading to

death from blood loss

Coronary by-pass: Cure for Atherosclerosis• This is an operation which can get rid of part of an artery

that has been effected by atherosclerosis• A grafted artery is usually taken from the leg and used to

bypass the part of the artery affected

Sources:

• www.webmd.com/heart/picture-of-the-arteries• http://hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/circulatorysys.html• Google images• Biology 20 textbook

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