Final answer:
Arteries have elastic walls and distribute oxygen-rich blood, veins have thin walls and contain valves, capillaries have thin walls for gas exchange, and lymphatic vessels have valves and thin walls to collect and transport lymph.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatic vessels have different structures that reflect their different functions. Arteries have thick and elastic walls to withstand high blood pressure and distribute oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Veins have thinner walls and contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood, allowing them to transport oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart. Capillaries have thin walls which allow for the exchange of gases and nutrients between the blood and body tissues. Lymphatic vessels have valves and thin walls to collect and transport lymph, a fluid that helps remove waste products and pathogens from body tissues.