Chapter 3 Body systems
EXTRA WORKSHEET 2: Blood vessels
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
• LITERACY
Name:______________________Class:___________Date: ___________
The heart pumps blood around the body in the circulatory system. In the circulatory
system are three types of blood vessels. They each have a different structure that is
related to their function.
Arteries
Arteries carry blood away from the heart. In the arteries, the blood is under high
pressure from the pumping of the heart. As seen in Figure 3.2.1, the walls of the
arteries are strong, thick and elastic, so they can withstand the pressure. Large
arteries branch into smaller and smaller arteries, which spread and carry blood to all
parts of the body. Eventually the branches of the arteries become very fine, and are
known as capillaries.
Figure 3.2.1 Structure of an artery
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Capillaries
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels. They are so small that red blood cells can
only just squeeze through them. The capillary walls are similar to the innermost layer
of the arteries, as seen in Figure 3.2.2.
Figure 3.2.2 Structure of a capillary
The flow of blood in the capillaries is fairly slow (about 1 mm per second) and by this
stage the blood is not under pressure. The capillaries reach nearly every cell of the
body. The capillaries then join together, forming larger vessels called veins.
Veins
Veins carry blood back towards the heart. The blood is no longer under pressure and
it is moving against gravity. The structure of a vein can be seen in Figure 3.2.3.
Figure 3.2.3 Structure of a vein
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Questions
1 Use the names of the types of blood vessels to complete these sentences.
a Blood flows through three types of blood vessels as it circulates around the
body. These are known as ______veins_________,
____arteries___________ and _____capilaries__________.
b __________veins______ carry blood away from the heart.
c ______arteries__________ carry blood towards the heart.
d It is at the __capilaries_____________ that materials are exchanged with
cells.
2 Contrast arteries and veins.
Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the body. Veins carry blood low in
oxygen from the body back to the heart______________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3 Identify ways in which all three types of blood vessel are similar.
They both have an important role of carrying blood around the bloody______
_____________________________________________________________
Figure 3.2.4 is a diagram of the valves in a vein. They are open, pushed against the
walls as the blood flows through.
Figure 3.2.4
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4 Construct a similar picture showing what happens to the valves if the blood tries
to flow backwards.
5 Predict what could happen if:
a artery walls were not thick and elastic
blockage of blood_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
b veins did not have valves
won’t carry blood to body_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
c capillaries had tough elastic walls
wouldn’t remove waste_________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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