The Layer in the Wall of an Artery That Helps

Question

The layer in the wall of an artery that helps maintain blood pressure is the:
A)outer layer of fibrous connective tissue
B)simple squamous epithelial lining
C)middle layer of smooth muscle and elastic connective tissue
D)smooth muscle lining

Accepted Answer

The middle layer of an artery wall is called the tunica media, which is made up of smooth muscle and elastic connective tissue. This layer helps maintain blood pressure by regulating the size of the artery lumen, or the space within the artery where blood flows. When the smooth muscle in the tunica media contracts, the lumen size decreases and blood pressure increases. Conversely, when the smooth muscle relaxes, the lumen size increases and blood pressure decreases.