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“Name the blood vessels that flow from the heart to the body tissues, whose vessel walls contain smooth muscle.”
Explanation
Answer: B - Arterial blood vessels carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Arterial walls contain three layers of fibrous and smooth muscle tissue, allowing the artery the shrinking/ stretching elastic quality necessary for the pumping action of the heart. Arteries are largest in diameter nearest the heart (the aorta is about 25mm), and become progressively smaller (some arterioles are about 0.03mm) as they move toward body tissues. The smooth muscle tissue in the walls of the artery has the ability to contract or dilate as necessary to maintain blood flow. Oxygenated blood flows from the heart through arteries, arterioles, and finally to capillaries.
