Fibrous connective tissue helps make up the |tunica media|. Unlike the cells of the endothelial layer, which are crowded close together, the cells of the connective tissue are scattered far apart with many elastic filaments (fibers) between them. This gives the tissue its elasticity. This elasticity allows the walls of the arteries and |veins| to respond to impulses from the sympathetic ~nerves~ that regulate the ~blood~ flow. The walls respond to these impulses either by contractin, reducing ~blood~ flow, or by relaxing, which increases ~blood~ flow. When we eat, ~blood~ flow to the digestive system is increased, reducing ~blood~ flow to the limbs.
