Auxilary pump during diastole
Aortic lumen = 2.5cm
Artery lumen = 0.4cm
Resistance vessels
5 to 100 micrometers in diameter
Determines systemic vascular resistance and distribution of blood flow
Exchange of gas, nutrients and wastes
5 to 10 micrometers in diameter
True capillaries lack smooth muscles
10 to 20 micrometer in diameter
Capacitance vessels
25 times more compliance than arterial system
* 4 times the capacity, and 6 times the specific compliance
RBC: 3 micrometer in diameter
Hagen-Poiseuille's law does not apply to vessels under 300 micrometers because viscosity is affected by diameter (See Haemodynamics)
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| Reviewed | 20050815 |