HUMB1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Natriuretic Peptide, Pulmonary Vein, Medulla Oblongata
2 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
Tunica intima consists of: endothelium, basement membrane. Internal elastic membrane (fenestrated layer of elastic fibres) It varies from dense regular connective tissue near the vessel to loose connective tissue that merges with the surrounding connective tissue. Carry oxygenated blood (except for the pulmonary arteries which carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs) Contain blood under pressure known as pressure reservoirs and contain pressure receptors. Have thick elastic (allow for the expansion of artery walls due to pressure) muscular walls (help to maintain blood pressure through vasocontraction/vasodilation. Elastic arteries: contain a large amount of elastic tissue, expand and recoil with each heart beat, are pressure reservoirs, conducting arteries e. g the aorta and its major branches. Muscular arteries: thick walls 25+ layers, undergo vasoconstriction and vasodilation, distributing arteries e. g medium sized arteries. Smaller muscular arteries: decrease in size with gradual loss of wall layers down to terminal arterioles.
