Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are tubes, which carry the blood around the body. There are different types of blood vessels. Arteries carry blood away from the heart. These vessels split up into smaller ones called arterioles. Arterioles split up into tiny blood vessels called capillaries. It is from these vessels that movement of particles to & from the blood takes place. Capillaries join together to form larger vessels called venules which join together to form veins .
| Veins | Arteries |
|---|---|
| Blood travels to heart | Blood travels away from heart |
| Large Lumen | Narrow Lumen |
| Thin wall with few elastic fibres | Thick wall with lots of elastic fibres |
| Thin muscular layer | Thick muscular layer |
| Valves present to prevent back flow | No valves |
| Blood travels constantly | Blood travels in pulses |
| Blood under low pressure | Blood under high pressure |
| Blood moves slowly | Blood moves rapidly |
