AP2 Lab 4 Circulatory System _ Mapping and Vessel Functions Study Guide 2026-04-10 AP2 Lab 4 Circulatory System _ Mapping and Vessel Functions Study Guide.pdf
AP2 Lab 4 Circulatory
System | Mapping and
Vessel Functions Study
Guide
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Page 1 of 9 Page 1
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ap2-lab-4-circulatory-system-mapping-and-vessel-functions 2026-04-10 ap2-lab-4-circulatory-system-mapping-and-vessel-functions.pdf
Arteries, capillaries, and veins back to the heart is basic mapping of the circulatory system.
● Arteries - efferent blood vessels in circulatory system
- Carry blood away from heart
- Typically carry oxygenated blood but exception in pulmonary circuit when the pulmonary
arteries carry oxygenated blood away from heart to lungs.
- 1st category of arteries: conducting arteries
- Very large arteries
- Typically those that exit from heart, such as aorta and pulmonary trunk
- Have ability to expand when heart beats. With every heartbeat, blood surges out of
heart into these vessels, so they need to be able to stretch and expand to withstand
pressure from blood surge
- Have layer of elastic tissue which gives ability to stretch and recoil when heart relax
- Atherosclerosis - arteries stiffen as they age. Plaque builds up and they lose elasticity
- Results in increase in pressure inside those blood vessels
- The increase in that pressure can lead to development of something called
aneurysm.
- An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel in artery and with each
heartbeat, that thin little walled area will pulsate and weaken and finally will
rupture, leading to death or stroke.
- 2nd category of arteries: distributing arteries (also called medium/muscular arteries)
- Are direct branches from the connecting arteries. For example, from aorta, we have
direct branches that will distribute blood throughout body.
- Have very thick muscular wall, can have up to 40 layers of smooth muscle
- The thick walls allow them to withstand pressure from blood surging through arterial
system.
- The muscular walls make up ~75% of arterial wall itself. But also has layers of elastic
tissue which allow it to stretch.
- Example: brachial artery. Femoral artery (named for area where they are distributing
blood)
- 3rd category: resistance arteries (or small arteries)
- Very numerous, too many to name
- 4th category: metarterioles
- Are very short vessels that will link the arterial system into the capillaries
- After blood flows into arterial system, it will flow into a series of capillary beds
- Capillaries are known as exchange vessels
- Have very thins walls and it is where the exchange of oxygen, glucose and
any kind of nutrient in the body is passed through the walls of the capillary
beds so that muscles and organs can get nutrients they need.
- Connect the smallest arteries to the smallest veins
2 Page 2 of 9 Page 2
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AP2 Lab 4 Circulatory
System | Mapping and
Vessel Functions Study
Guide
1 Guidehttps://www.stuvia.com/dashboard!@_)#*)(@$)($@*($@)($@*_
Page 1 of 9 Page 1
, lOMoARcPSD|62982272
ap2-lab-4-circulatory-system-mapping-and-vessel-functions 2026-04-10 ap2-lab-4-circulatory-system-mapping-and-vessel-functions.pdf
Arteries, capillaries, and veins back to the heart is basic mapping of the circulatory system.
● Arteries - efferent blood vessels in circulatory system
- Carry blood away from heart
- Typically carry oxygenated blood but exception in pulmonary circuit when the pulmonary
arteries carry oxygenated blood away from heart to lungs.
- 1st category of arteries: conducting arteries
- Very large arteries
- Typically those that exit from heart, such as aorta and pulmonary trunk
- Have ability to expand when heart beats. With every heartbeat, blood surges out of
heart into these vessels, so they need to be able to stretch and expand to withstand
pressure from blood surge
- Have layer of elastic tissue which gives ability to stretch and recoil when heart relax
- Atherosclerosis - arteries stiffen as they age. Plaque builds up and they lose elasticity
- Results in increase in pressure inside those blood vessels
- The increase in that pressure can lead to development of something called
aneurysm.
- An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel in artery and with each
heartbeat, that thin little walled area will pulsate and weaken and finally will
rupture, leading to death or stroke.
- 2nd category of arteries: distributing arteries (also called medium/muscular arteries)
- Are direct branches from the connecting arteries. For example, from aorta, we have
direct branches that will distribute blood throughout body.
- Have very thick muscular wall, can have up to 40 layers of smooth muscle
- The thick walls allow them to withstand pressure from blood surging through arterial
system.
- The muscular walls make up ~75% of arterial wall itself. But also has layers of elastic
tissue which allow it to stretch.
- Example: brachial artery. Femoral artery (named for area where they are distributing
blood)
- 3rd category: resistance arteries (or small arteries)
- Very numerous, too many to name
- 4th category: metarterioles
- Are very short vessels that will link the arterial system into the capillaries
- After blood flows into arterial system, it will flow into a series of capillary beds
- Capillaries are known as exchange vessels
- Have very thins walls and it is where the exchange of oxygen, glucose and
any kind of nutrient in the body is passed through the walls of the capillary
beds so that muscles and organs can get nutrients they need.
- Connect the smallest arteries to the smallest veins
2 Page 2 of 9 Page 2
Downloaded by elizabeth moses ()
