Circulatory System

Question 1

What is the top number on a blood pressure reading?

Answer 1

systolic blood pressure (measures pressure in your vessels when your heart beats)

Question 2

What is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading?

Answer 2

diastolic blood pressure (measures the pressure when your heart rests between beats)

Question 3

What are arteries?

Answer 3

• bring blood away from heart
• under high pressure
• blood travels in spurts
• blood is oxygenated
• thick muscular walls
• no valves

Question 4

What are veins?

Answer 4

• take blood to the heart
• travels smoothly
• less pressure than arteries
• carry deoxygenated blood
• dark maroon colour
• larger lumen but thinner walls
• contain valves

Question 5

What are capillaries?

Answer 5

• RBC travel in single file
• all exchange nutrients/waste occurs here
• single cell walls (squamous epithelium)