What would people write notes on structure of blood vessels and how it relates to function?

Question

For example, I have things atm like 'Blood flows through arteries with a great force of flow, so arterial walls are thick and flexible. These thicker walls help protect against damage to the artery walls from the high pressure.'
Do you think i need to talk about anatomy of the arteries etc (e.g. tunica extema- made up of connective tissue; tunica media-smooth muscle cells and elastic-like tissues and tunica intima- made up of endothelial cells).
I always dislike having to write notes about thinkgs and having to relate it to its function, never know how much detail is needed and always seen to go off the mark!
Any (real) help would be much appreciated.

This is for AS level and all we have been told is to make notes on the structure of the blood vessels and how it relates to their function

Answer 1

You have the right idea there. What you need to do is look at each of the types of blood vessels, arteries, veins capillaries what are the differences between them? Why are these differences useful. The detail you on the anatomy of the arteries is unlikely to be on an exam so if these are revision notes it's more important to get the main points down. However if this is an essay then it can add an extra level to your understanding. Don't forget to relate these to the functions though. Also figures are always useful especially when discussing or trying to understand structure you are more likely to remember it and understand it if you can visualise it.

Answer 2

It all depends on what level the question is set for ie gcse, a level, degree but from the question, it is asking for the structure of blood vessels so you MUST write about the elastic and muscle tissue in the walls and the endothelial cells etc.
Then write why there is elastic and muscle tissue etc in the vessels ie to expand for vasodilation and constriction etc.
Simply read the question and answer it and you will do well.

Answer 3

Here is some info for the notes
The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. The most important types, arteries and veins, carry blood away from or towards the heart, respectively.

Types
There are various kinds of blood vessels:

Arteries
Aorta (the largest artery, carries blood out of the heart)
Branches of the aorta, such as the carotid artery, the subclavian artery, the celiac trunk, the mesenteric arteries, the renal artery and the iliac artery.
Arterioles
Capillaries (the smallest blood vessels)
Venules
Veins
Large collecting vessels, such as the subclavian vein, the jugular vein, the renal vein and the iliac vein.
Venae cavae (the 2 largest veins, carry blood into the heart)

Anatomy

All blood vessels have the same basic structure. The inner lining is the endothelium and is surrounded by subendothelial connective tissue. Around this there is a layer of vascular smooth muscle, which is highly developed in arteries. Finally, there is a further layer of connective tissue known as the adventitia, which contains nerves that supply the muscular layer, as well as nutrient capillaries in the larger blood vessels.

Physiology

Blood vessels do not actively engage in the transport of blood (they have no appreciable peristalsis), but arteries - and veins to a degree - can regulate their inner diameter by contraction of the muscular layer.This changes the blood flow to downstream organs, and is determined by the autonomic nervous system. Vasodilation and vasoconstriction are also used antagonistically as methods of thermoregulation.
Oxygen (bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells) is the most critical nutrient carried by the blood
The blood pressure in blood vessels is traditionally expressed in millimetres of mercury (1 mmHg = 133 Pa). In the arterial system, this is usually around 120 mmHg systolic (high pressure wave due to contraction of the heart) and 80 mmHg diastolic (low pressure wave). In contrast, pressures in the venous system are constant and rarely exceed 10 mmHg.

Vasoconstriction is the constriction of blood vessels (narrowing, becoming smaller in cross-sectional area) by contracting the vascular smooth muscle in the vessel walls. It is regulated by vasoconstrictors (agents that cause vasoconstriction). These include paracrine factors (e.g. prostaglandins), a number of hormones (e.g. vasopressin and angiotensin) and neurotransmitters (e.g. epinephrine) from the nervous system.

Vasodilation is a similar process mediated by antagonistically acting mediators. The most prominent vasodilator is nitric oxide (termed endothelium-derived relaxing factor for this reason).
Permeability of the endothelium is pivotal in the release of nutrients to the tissue. It is also increased in inflammation in response to histamine, prostaglandins and interleukins, which leads to most of the symptoms of inflammation (swelling, redness and warmth).

Role in disease

Blood vessels play a role in virtually every medical condition. Cancer, for example, cannot progress unless the tumor causes angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) to supply the malignant cells' metabolic demand. Atherosclerosis, the formation of lipid lumps (atheromas) in the blood vessel wall, is the prime cause of cardiovascular disease, the main cause of death in the Western world.
Blood vessel permeability is increased in inflammation. Damage, due to trauma or spontaneously, may lead to haemorrhage. In contrast, occlusion of the blood vessel (e.g. by a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque, by an embolised blood clot or a foreign body) leads to downstream ischemia (insufficient blood supply) and necrosis (tissue breakdown).
Vasculitis is inflammation of the vessel wall, due to autoimmune disease or infection.
Capillaries consist of little more than a layer of endothelium and occasional connective tissue.

Answer 4

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