Here's a table summarizing five key differences between arteries, veins, and capillaries:
| Feature | Arteries | Veins | Capillaries | |----------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Function | Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except pulmonary arteries) | Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except pulmonary veins) | Facilitate gas, nutrient, and waste exchange between blood and tissues | | Wall Structure | Thick, muscular, and elastic walls to withstand high pressure | Thinner walls with less muscle and elastic tissue due to lower pressure | Extremely thin walls (one cell thick) to allow easy exchange | | Lumen Size | Narrow lumen to maintain high pressure | Wider lumen to accommodate larger volumes of blood | Very narrow lumen, allowing for the passage of one red blood cell at a time | | Valves | No valves (pressure from the heart keeps blood flowing) | Contain valves to prevent backflow of blood | No valves (blood flows through due to pressure from arteries and suction from veins) | | Blood Pressure | High blood pressure due to proximity to the heart | Lower blood pressure as blood returns to the heart | Very low pressure to facilitate exchange of materials |
This table highlights the structural and functional differences among arteries, veins, and capillaries in the circulatory system.
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