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Multiple Choice
Which type of blood vessels handle the highest blood pressure?
A
Veins
B
Capillaries
C
Venules
D
Arteries
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the function of arteries in the circulatory system. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues of the body. They are designed to handle high-pressure blood flow generated by the heart's pumping action.
Step 2: Compare the structure of arteries to other blood vessels. Arteries have thick, elastic walls composed of smooth muscle and connective tissue, which allow them to withstand and regulate high blood pressure. Veins, capillaries, and venules have thinner walls and are not designed for high-pressure blood flow.
Step 3: Recognize the role of the heart in generating blood pressure. When the heart contracts (systole), it forces blood into the arteries, creating the highest pressure in the circulatory system. This pressure decreases as blood moves through smaller vessels like capillaries and veins.
Step 4: Analyze why veins, capillaries, and venules do not handle high blood pressure. Veins return blood to the heart under low pressure, capillaries facilitate nutrient and gas exchange at low pressure, and venules are small vessels that collect blood from capillaries and direct it to veins.
Step 5: Conclude that arteries are the type of blood vessels that handle the highest blood pressure due to their proximity to the heart and their structural adaptations for high-pressure blood flow.