Functional classification of blood vessels

Functionally, the blood vessels can be classified into the following five groups.

(a) Distributing vessels, including arteries

(b) Resistance vessels, including arterioles and precapillary sphincters
(c) Exchange vessels, including capillaries, sinusoids, and postcapillary
     venules

(d) Reservoir (capacitance) vessels, including larger venules and veins 

(e) Shunts, including various types of anastomoses.