As blood travels from the arteries of the heart into the capillaries of the body tissue,blood pressure drops precipitously.Which statement about the relationship between cross-sectional vessel area and blood pressure is true?
A) As the total cross-sectional area decreases,blood pressure also decreases.
B) As the total cross-sectional area increases,blood pressure also increases.
C) As the total cross-sectional area increases,blood pressure decreases.
D) As the total cross-sectional area decreases,blood pressure increases.
E) There is no relationship between cross-sectional vessel area and blood pressure.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the principle of continuity equation, the total cross-sectional area of the vessels in the capillary bed is significantly larger than the cross-sectional area of the large arteries. This means that blood flows through the capillaries at a slower rate, allowing time for exchange of gases, nutrients, and wastes between the blood and the surrounding tissue. As blood flows through a larger total cross-sectional area, the resistance to flow decreases, and blood pressure also decreases. Therefore, as the total cross-sectional area increases, blood pressure decreases.

As Blood Travels from the Arteries of the Heart into the Capillaries