The Blood Vessels That are Under the Greatest Pressure Are

Question

The blood vessels that are under the greatest pressure are the
A) arterioles.
B) capillaries.
C) elastic arteries.
D) veins.
E) venules.

Accepted Answer

Elastic arteries, such as the aorta, are under the greatest pressure because they are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart and must be able to withstand the force of each heartbeat. Arterioles and capillaries have lower pressure and veins and venules have even lower pressure, as they are responsible for returning blood to the heart.