Question

As blood flows away from the heart, how does overall blood pressure in vessels change? Why?

a. Blood pressure decreases because blood vessels are passive and cannot exert any force on the moving blood.

b. Blood pressure increases because vessel diameter narrows with distance from the heart, which increases the force on the blood.

c. Blood pressure increases. Otherwise, the blood would not flow up toward the heart.

d. Blood pressure decreases because of the effects of friction between the vessel walls and the moving blood.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option d

Step-by-step explanation:

because blood pressure decreases as blood moves away from the heart, which is why the heart needs to generate enough pressure so that blood can return to the heart. The pressure drops due to friction between the vessel's walls and the moving blood which exerts a force opposite to the flow of blood, thereby slowing it down. Option a is incorrect because some blood vessels like elastic arteries are not passive and can actually exert a force on the moving blood to help maintain pressure, nevertheless, the blood pressure does decrease due to frictional forces exerted by the vessel walls. Options b and c are incorrect because blood pressure decreases once it leaves the heart.