In this module, you will learn:

  • the three types of blood vessels
  • the characteristics and differences between the blood vessels

Resources to help you:

  • Textbook: page 45
  • Notebook: page 10

Blood vessels

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The function of the heart is to pump blood all over the body. To carry the blood, the body has blood vessels. They are like the pipes of our body.

There are three types of blood vessels.

  1. artery
  2. vein
  3. capillary

Blood vessels deliver blood to all parts of the body

Credit: @lightsource via Depositphotos

From left to right; artery, vein and capillary

Artery

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  1. These blood vessels carry blood away from the heart.
  2. They have a small lumen.
  3. They have thick walls to withstand the high pressure.
  4. They have no valves.
  5. They carry oxygenated blood except for the pulmonary artery.

Vein

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  1. These blood vessels carry blood towards the heart.
  2. They have a large lumen.
  3. They have thinner walls as the pressure is lower.
  4. They have valves.
  5. They carry deoxygenated blood except for the pulmonary vein.

Capillary

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  1. These blood vessels connect the arteries and veins.
  2. They have a small lumen.
  3. They have are only one cell thick.
  4. They have no valves.

Time for practice quiz

Now that you have learnt about the blood vessels, you can click below to do a practice quiz

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Ready for the next module?

In the next module, we will look at the blood pressure and pulse.

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