Chapter 13, Problem 28RA

Summary Introduction

To review:

The following:

Transport of nutrients, body waste, and hormones through capillaries, veins and arteries

Role of exercise in aiding the transport through the blood vessels.

 

Introduction:

Blood moves along the vessels from arteries to the capillaries and then into the veins. Veins and arteries are connected by the capillaries and interchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The artery has thickest wall while capillaries have thinnest vessel wall.

 

 

Explanation:

Arteries transport oxygenated blood from the heart toward tissues and organs. Veins transport deoxygenated blood toward the heart from the tissues. Walls of veins are thicker than those of arteries. Capillaries exchange fluids between the blood and the tissues through the tissue walls. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels which transfer oxygen and nutrients from the bloodstream to the tissues in the body.

During exercise, muscles need more blood. So, blood vessels expand the network of capillaries and muscle cells boost the levels of an enzyme, which allows using oxygen for generating energy.