Atherosclerosis thickening or hardening of the arteries. It is caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Plaque is made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin. As it builds up in the arteries, the artery walls become thickenedRead More →
Arteries and arterioles have relatively thick muscular walls because blood pressure in them is high and because they must adjust their diameter to maintain blood pressure and to control blood flow. What is the thickest vessel in the heart? The myocardium is thickest in the left ventricle, as the leftRead More →
Capillaries. Capillaries are small, thin blood vessels that connect the arteries and the veins. Their thin walls allow oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide and waste products to pass to and from the tissue cells. Are venules the smallest blood vessels? Eventually, the smallest arteries, vessels called arterioles, further branch into tinyRead More →