Blood Vessels
Blood vessels are rubbery tubes that carry the blood around the body.
The three types of blood vessels are arteries, veins and capillaries.
Blood vessel
artery
thick, elastic
wall
small
lumen
capillary
Function
• thick-walled blood vessel
• carries blood rich in oxygen from the heart to other parts of
the body (aorta)
There is an artery that carries blood containing little
oxygen from the heart to the lungs to pick up more
oxygen to be circulated round the body. It is called
the pulmonary artery.
• very thin-walled, narrow blood vessel which connects blood
flowing from the arteries to the veins
The thin walls enable
• oxygen, digested food and water to pass from the capillary
into the body cells
• carbon dioxide and waste materials to pass from the body
cells into the bloodstream to be removed
single
cell wall
vein
thin wall
large lumen
• thin-walled blood vessel
• carries blood rich in carbon dioxide back to the heart to be
removed (vena cava)
There is a vein that carries blood containing oxygen
from the lungs to the heart. It is called the pulmonary
vein.
Adapted:
PSLE Science Partner A Complete Guide to L&U Block
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Book 1.indb 9
10/12/2016 10:45:35 AM