What do arteries branch into as they become smaller?

Arteries become smaller as they branch out, transitioning into arterioles. This process is part of the vascular system's structure, where arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart and gradually decrease in size as they move toward the tissues. Arterioles are the smallest type of artery, functioning as the main regulators of blood flow and blood pressure as they lead into the capillary network.

Capillaries, while integral to the circulatory system, do not directly branch from arteries; instead, they form the next level of the vascular hierarchy after arterioles. They provide oxygen and nutrients to tissues and collect waste products.

Veins and venules are part of a different pathway, as they are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Venules collect blood from the capillaries and converge to form veins, but they do not result from the branching of arteries. Understanding the correct sequence—from arteries to arterioles and then to capillaries—clarifies the functioning of the circulatory system and the role each component plays.