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Smooth muscle and elastic tissue in blood vessels.

ocelot92

What is the functions of smooth muscle and elastic tissue in blood vessels?
thanks

Reply 1

Pride

Original post by ocelot92

What is the functions of smooth muscle and elastic tissue in blood vessels?
thanks

Is it in your textbook? Have you got any specific questions? How much do you know already?

The smooth muscle narrows or constricts the artery, helping to maintain a high pressure for the blood to reach respiring tissue, while elastic fibres recoil, reversing the constricting, dilating the artery, so that the vessel reverts to it's original shape.

Reply 2

Uniiverse

In arteries, as the ventricles contract (ventricular systole) the hydrostatic pressure increases. This pushes the blood along the arteries. Arteries have a very small lumen (compared to veins). When the ventricles have just contracted, the arteries sort of 'expand' the elastic fibers stretch, and when ventricular systole has finished (i.e. ventricles re-filling) the elastic fibers recoil. This recoil is a way that the arteriy walls are adapted to maintain pressure.

A circulatory system (for example Mammalian) needs a pump; a means of maintaining pressure; a transport medium and a gaseous exchange surface.

Pump = Heart

Means of maintaining pressure = Aorta

Transport medium = Blood/Plasma

Gaseous exchange surface = Capillaries/Capillary wall/ Capillary endothelium

Reply 3

Uniiverse

Original post by Pride

The action of the smooth muscle constricting the vessel and the elastic tissue recoiling and dilating the vessel is peristalsis? (Pulse)?

Reply 4

Pride

Original post by Uniiverse

The action of the smooth muscle constricting the vessel and the elastic tissue recoiling and dilating the vessel is peristalsis? (Pulse)?

It's not peristalsis, but it might be what you feel when you take 'a pulse', I'm not entirely sure. Wikipedia it maybe.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 5

Uniiverse

Original post by Pride

It's not peristalsis, but it might be what you feel when you take 'a pulse', I'm not entirely sure. Wikipedia it maybe.

Ok thanks :P

Reply 6

gozatron

Original post by Uniiverse

Ok thanks :P

Nah a pulse is the feel of the flow of blood at a certain point in a vessel you've partially blocked by pressing on it.

Reply 7

Alexb43

Original post by Uniiverse

The action of the smooth muscle constricting the vessel and the elastic tissue recoiling and dilating the vessel is peristalsis? (Pulse)?

you are incorrect. Peristalsis is a series of muscular contractions that aids the movement of food through the gut.

Reply 8

username2769500

Smooth muscle creates area of high pressure by contracting which causes the blood vessel to constrict. Further up the area the muscle relaxes creating an area of lower pressure which the blood can move faster towards or less of a contraction is needed so that the blood does not need to work against the muscle further up the vessel ideally this will be happening all over the body as gravity acts because you're blood vessels would burst if they weren't controlled though back flow valves in the legs and extremities do most of the work, they are similar to the bi and tri cuspid valves that prevent back flow. Your own muscles if they are large enough that when you contract them they will do work in pumping your blood but it can cause high pressure.

The elastic region ensures that the blood vessel can return to it's relaxed position as fast as possible.