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A-Level Biology OCR A

Aorta Blood Smooth Muscle Collagen Medium Sized Arteries

The aorta has the most elastic fibres to withstand high pulse pressure, while medium arteries and arterioles have more smooth muscle for flow regulation. The aorta also has the most connective tissue for structural integrity, with decreasing amounts in medium arteries and arterioles.

The aorta has the most elastic fibres to withstand high pulse pressure, while medium arteries and arterioles have more smooth muscle for flow regulation. The aorta also has the most connective tissue for structural integrity, with decreasing amounts in medium arteries and arterioles.

Front Compare the relative proportions of elastin fibres, smooth muscle and collagen in the aorta, medium sized arteries and arterioles. Relate these to their functions.
Back Proportions of components:


  • Aorta has the most elastic fibres bc the blood pressure is very high and the pulses need evening out - pumps blood directly from the heart to the body
  • Medium sized arteries and arterioles have more smooth muscle tissue than the aorta because these are the blood vessels where redirecting blood flow is important
    • (stressed vs relaxed states, hot vs cold) vasoconstriction and vasodilation
  • Aorta has the most connective tissue with collagen to prevent aorta from widening due to high pressure and preventing from damage from rubbing against other organs because of surges of blood, medium sized arteries have less collagen because they have more smooth muscle

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