 | Term | Definition |
| |
arteries |
Carry oxygenated blood. Have thick walls and are very elastic because they are the vessels that are under the greatest amount of pressure. |
| |
pulmonary artery |
The only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated blood. |
| |
aorta |
The largest artery in the body. |
| |
arterioles |
The smallest division of artery. They have thinner walls. |
| |
capillaries |
Made of endothelial cells. Called connective vessels. Thinnest walls- one cell layer thick. Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occur through these vessels. |
| |
venules |
Smallest of the veins. |
| |
veins |
Carry deoxygenated blood. Collapse easily when not filled with blood. They have valves to keep blood flowing in the right direction, toward the heart. |
| |
pulmonary veins |
The only veins in the body that carry oxygenated blood. |
