Textbook Question
Capillaries consist of:
a. Three thin tunics
b. Only a thin tunica intima with a well-developed internal elastic lamina
c. A thin sheet of endothelium with a basal lamina
d. Stratified epithelium
19. The Blood Vessels
Capillaries
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a primary function of capillaries?
A
Facilitating the exchange of nutrients and waste between blood and tissues
B
Transporting oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body
C
Pumping blood throughout the circulatory system
D
Storing blood for emergency use
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of capillaries in the circulatory system. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body and form a network between the arterioles and venules.
Recognize that capillaries have thin walls, which are only one cell thick. This structure is crucial for their primary function.
Identify the primary function of capillaries: facilitating the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues.
Differentiate the function of capillaries from other blood vessels: Arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body, while veins carry blood back to the heart.
Conclude that the primary function of capillaries is not to transport blood or store it, but to enable the exchange of substances between blood and tissues, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
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