Question

4. Compare and contrast the tunica media of the following:

• Muscular artery

• Elastic artery

• Vein

• Capillary

Answer 1

- Muscular Artery:

Te tunica media of muscular artery is rich in smooth muscle cells. This helps to maintain the blood pressure and regualtes the blood flow. All medium sized arteries are the examples of muscular artery.

- Elastic artery: The tunica media of elastic artery is rich in elastic fibrous tissue along with the smooth muscle cells. This provides greater elastic force to the blood vessel hence it can bear larger pressure of the blood coming from the left ventricle. the example of elastic artery is AOrta.

- veins: the tunica media of the veins are very thin while the lumens of the veins are very large. this makes them to accomodate large quantity of the blood. hence veins are also called capacitancce vessels.

- Capillaries: tunica media is absent in the capillaries as they are composed of only tunica intima and basement membrane