Elastic artery
Elastic artery
Elastic arteries (pronunciation: e-las-tic ar-ter-ies) are a type of artery that includes the largest arteries in the body, such as the aorta and its immediate branches. They are named for their high content of elastin, a protein that allows them to stretch and recoil, accommodating changes in blood pressure.
Etymology
The term "elastic artery" is derived from the Greek word "elastikos", meaning "able to spring back", and the Latin word "arteria", meaning "windpipe, artery". This reflects the ability of these arteries to expand and contract with the rhythm of the heart.
Function
Elastic arteries function as pressure reservoirs, expanding and recoiling with each heartbeat to maintain a relatively constant blood pressure. This elasticity also allows them to accommodate the large volume of blood pumped by the heart, and to distribute it to the smaller muscular arteries.
Structure
The walls of elastic arteries are composed of several layers, or tunica. The innermost layer, the tunica intima, is lined with endothelial cells. The middle layer, the tunica media, contains a high proportion of elastin, interspersed with smooth muscle cells. The outermost layer, the tunica adventitia, is composed of connective tissue.
Related Terms
- Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
- Aorta: The main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen.
- Elastin: A protein that allows tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting.
- Endothelial cells: Cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels.
- Muscular arteries: Arteries that distribute blood to the body's skeletal muscles and internal organs.
- Tunica: The term for each of the three layers that make up the wall of a blood vessel.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Elastic artery
- Wikipedia's article - Elastic artery
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski