What is the function of the muscle in the wall of the artery?

What is the function of the muscle in the wall of the artery?

The prime function of the arterial smooth muscle cell (SMC) in adult individuals is to contract and relax, thereby regulating blood flow to target tissues.

Why do arteries have muscular elastic walls?

Since they must receive the blood directly from the heart which pumps the blood at a pressure sufficient to enable circulation, they need thick and elastic walls to both sustain the pressure (and so keep the blood flowing) and to withstand the pressure (and not get affected by the pressure).

What is the difference between muscular and elastic arteries?

Muscular arteries contain more smooth muscle cells in the tunica media layer than the elastic arteries. Elastic arteries are those nearest the heart (aorta and pulmonary arteries) that contain much more elastic tissue in the tunica media than muscular arteries.

What is the function of a muscular artery?

Muscular arteries are a type of arteries that arise from elastic arteries and give rise to arterioles. The main function of these arteries is to supply blood to the organs.

Why are muscular arteries known as resistance vessels?

Moreover, muscular arteries are also known as resistance vessels as they exhibit vasoconstriction in response to sympathetic stimulation. That means; they can change the diameter of arteries, controlling the flow of blood as well as blood pressure.

What is the main function of elastic arteries?

However, the main function of elastic arteries is to receive blood from the heart under high pressure and to gently pass the blood through arteries. Inside elastic arteries, the blood pressure comes to its normal caliber.

Which is the largest artery in the body?

Then, the muscular layer contracts slowly to pump the blood further down the arteries to the arterioles and capillaries. The largest artery in the body is the aorta, which connects directly to the heart. Two branches of the aorta are the coronary arteries, which both send oxygen and nourishment to the heart.

Muscular artery. A muscular artery (or distributing artery) is a medium-sized artery that draws blood from an elastic artery and branches into “resistance vessels” including small arteries and arterioles. In contrast to the mechanism elastic arteries use to store energy generated by the heart’s contraction (elastic recoil),…

How are smooth muscle cells arranged in elastic arteries?

The pulmonary arteries, the aorta, and its branches together comprise the body’s system of elastic arteries. In these large arteries, the amount of elastic tissue is considerable and the smooth muscle fiber cells are arranged in 5 to 7 layers in both circular and longitudinal directions.

Which is the conducting artery in the body?

Elastic arteries are the conducting arteries in the body that are consisted of a large amount of elastin and collagen fibers in the tunica media of the wall.

However, the main function of elastic arteries is to receive blood from the heart under high pressure and to gently pass the blood through arteries. Inside elastic arteries, the blood pressure comes to its normal caliber.