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Which statement accurately describes the structure of arteries?
Thin-walled and non-elastic
Thick-walled and elastic
Muscular and non-pulsatile
Thin-walled and pulsatile
The correct answer is: Thick-walled and elastic
The accurate description of arteries is that they are thick-walled and elastic. This structure is crucial for their function in the circulatory system. Arteries are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues and organs, and the thick walls are necessary to withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped from the heart. The elastic nature of the arterial walls allows them to expand with each heartbeat, accommodating the surge of blood and then recoil, which helps maintain blood pressure during the diastolic phase of the heartbeat. This elasticity also aids in the pulsatile nature of blood flow, ensuring that it is smooth and continues to flow through the circulatory system rather than stop with each heartbeat. Understanding the structural characteristics of arteries helps clarify how they efficiently manage the powerful forces exerted during circulation, which is essential for overall cardiovascular health.