Elastic artery

Elastic artery
Identifiers
Code	TH H3.09.02.0.01010
*Anatomical terminology*

An elastic artery (conducting artery or conduit artery) is an artery with a large number of collagen and elastin filaments in the tunica media, which gives it the ability to stretch in response to each pulse.^[1] This elasticity also gives rise to the Windkessel effect, which helps to maintain a relatively constant pressure in the arteries despite the pulsating nature of the blood flow. Elastic arteries include the largest arteries in the body, those closest to the heart. They give rise to medium-sized vessels known as distributing arteries (or muscular arteries).

The pulmonary arteries, the aorta, and its branches together comprise the body's system of elastic arteries.

Elastic arteries receive their own blood supply by the vasa vasorum unlike smaller blood vessels, which are supplied by diffusion

References

↑ Shadwick RE (December 1999). "Mechanical design in arteries". J. Exp. Biol. 202 (Pt 23): 3305–13. PMID 10562513.

External links

Histology image: 05402loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University
Histology at usc.edu

Arteries and veins

Vessels

Arteries	Nutrient artery Arteriole Metarteriole
Capillaries	Types Continuous Fenestrated Sinusoidal Precapillary sphincter Precapillary resistance
Veins	Vena comitans Superficial vein Deep vein Emissary veins Venous plexus Venule
Lymph	Lymphatic vessel Lymph Lymph capillary

Circulatory system

Systemic	Left heart → Aorta → Arteries → Arterioles → Capillaries → Venules → Veins → Vena cava → (Right heart)
Pulmonary	Right heart → Pulmonary arteries → Lungs → Pulmonary vein → Left heart

Microanatomy

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