AQA GCSE Biology · 8461
Specification 4.2.2.2 · Paper 1
Revise: Blood Vessel Structure and Rate of FlowThe lumen is the space through the centre of a vessel. Blood flows through this space, while the vessel wall surrounds it.
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GCSE Biology · key term
The space inside a blood vessel through which blood flows.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.2.2.2 · Paper 1
Revise: Blood Vessel Structure and Rate of FlowThe lumen is the space through the centre of a vessel. Blood flows through this space, while the vessel wall surrounds it.
Specification 8.7 · Paper 2
The open space inside a blood vessel through which blood flows.
When comparing vessels, distinguish wall thickness from lumen width. Arteries have thick walls and relatively narrow lumens, whereas veins have thinner walls and wider lumens.
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Arteries carry blood away from the heart, capillaries bring it close to cells for exchange, and veins carry it back towards the heart. These vessels have different jobs, so their walls and the space inside them—the lumen—are different.
Specification B2.2d · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
Revise: Heart and blood vesselsThe lumen is relatively narrow compared with the overall wall thickness. Arteries do not normally have valves along their length.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The central space inside a blood vessel through which blood flows.
Revise: Blood VesselsAn artery has a relatively narrow lumen compared with the thickness of its wall. Its smooth inner lining reduces resistance to blood flow. Arteries generally do not need valves along their length because the high pressure keeps blood moving away from the heart.