What are the five types of blood vessels describing structure and function?

Arteries

- Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body

- Have thick, muscular walls to withstand high pressure

- Narrow as they branch away from the heart

Veins

- Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the rest of the body

- Have thinner walls than arteries and contain valves to prevent backflow of blood

- Larger in diameter than arteries

Capillaries

- The smallest type of blood vessel, connecting arterioles to venules

- Have very thin walls allowing for the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other nutrients between the blood and the surrounding tissue

- Form networks that surround cells

Arterioles

- Small arteries that branch off from arteries to supply blood to capillaries

- Have thinner walls than arteries

- Control blood flow to capillaries by constricting or dilating

Venules

- Small veins that collect blood from capillaries and merge to form larger veins

- Have thinner walls than veins and contain valves to prevent backflow of blood

- Larger in diameter than arterioles