Blood vessels are an integral part of the circulatory system. These components
assist in the transportation of blood within the body, often in and out of the
heart. There are three basic types of blood vessels: the capillaries, which
exchange water and chemicals between the blood and tissues; the arteries, which
carry blood away from the beating heart and the veins, which transport blood
from the capillaries to the heart, thus enabling the heart to continue
beating.
The primary components of blood vessels--arteries, arterioles, capillaries,
venules and veins--serve a variety of functions in keeping the body alive and healthy.
These functions include transporting blood away from the heart, transporting
oxygenated blood across the body, transporting blood from the arteries to the
capillaries, draining blood from the capillaries into the veins and exchanging
oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and salt between the body and surrounding tissues.
Arterioles are also the main regulators of blood pressure and flow. Capillaries
also assist in supplying the body's tissues with the necessary components of
blood.
assist in the transportation of blood within the body, often in and out of the
heart. There are three basic types of blood vessels: the capillaries, which
exchange water and chemicals between the blood and tissues; the arteries, which
carry blood away from the beating heart and the veins, which transport blood
from the capillaries to the heart, thus enabling the heart to continue
beating.
The primary components of blood vessels--arteries, arterioles, capillaries,
venules and veins--serve a variety of functions in keeping the body alive and healthy.
These functions include transporting blood away from the heart, transporting
oxygenated blood across the body, transporting blood from the arteries to the
capillaries, draining blood from the capillaries into the veins and exchanging
oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and salt between the body and surrounding tissues.
Arterioles are also the main regulators of blood pressure and flow. Capillaries
also assist in supplying the body's tissues with the necessary components of
blood.