What are Arteries?

Difference between arteries and veins. Arteries are the blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body tissues. Arteries are tube-like and have smooth tissues. An artery has three layers:

  • Intima

The intima is the inner layer made up of smooth tissues called endothelium

  • Media

A layer of mussels that allow or help the arteries to control the high blood pressure of blood from the heart.

  • Adventitia

The layer of connective tissues anchors the artery in nearby other arteries.

Types of Arteries: Difference between arteries and veins

There are three types of arteries.

1.Elastic Arteries

The arteries receive blood directly from the heart, e.g. the aorta and pulmonary artery. These are the elastic arteries because they are thinner than their diameter. Heart pulse and eject the blood in these arteries. These arteries are the largest arteries of the body and give rise to medium-sized arteries. These arteries have several collagen and elastin filaments to stretch by a single pulse of a heart.

  1. Muscular arteries

Medium-sized arteries get blood from elastic arteries and transport the blood in arterioles and capillaries. The wall contains several smooth tissues that help them to contract and expel. Examples of muscular arteries are radial arteries, femoral arteries and splenic arteries. 

3. Arterioles 

Arterioles are small arteries that transport blood into capillaries. Arteries control the blood flow of capillaries by expanding the lumen size. Tunica media has a contracting ring of smooth muscles. This compartment helps to check blood pressure.

What are Veins? Difference between arteries and veins

Veins are the blood vessels that transport non-oxygenated blood to the body from the heart. Many types of veins transport blood to the body. 

Deoxygenated blood that flows in our veins can be collected by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. In these capillaries, air can pass quickly, so oxygen and carbon dioxide pass easily before entering the blood in veins. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels of our body.  The venous system is a network of veins that deliver the deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Vein structure consists of three layers:

  • Tunica Externa

It is the thickest outer layer made up of connective tissues. Tunica Externa contains tiny blood vessels called Vasa Vasorum, which provide the blood of the walls of our veins.

  • Tunica Media

A Tunica media is the middle layer of veins thinner than tunica media and made up of collagen tissues. Collagen tissues are also a component of connective tissues.

  • Tunica Intima

The inner layer of veins is called Tunica intima, which comprises some connective tissues. This layer sometimes has one-way valves like in our arms and legs. These valves prevent the reverse flow of blood.

Types Of Veins: Difference between arteries and veins

Your body circulates blood in two different types of veins. These veins are different from each other by the basis of the blood that they carry.

1.Pulmonary Veins

Pulmonary Veins circulares deoxygenated blood from the heart to your lungs and oxygenated blood from the lungs back to your heart. These veins are very different from other veins because they carry oxygenated blood and other veins carry the deoxygenated blood.

2. Systemic Veins

Systemic veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body to your heart, and then this blood enters the pulmonary veins for oxygen. Most of the veins are systemic veins.

Difference Between Arteries And Veins

Comparison basis Arteries Veins
Blood Circulation Arteries transport blood away from the heart to the tissues of the body. Veins transport blood from the tissues of the body to the heart.
Blood Type Arteries carry oxygenated blood. Veins carry non-oxygenated blood.
thickness Arteries have thick muscular walls. Veins have thin and non-muscular walls.
Position Arteries are present more profound in the body. Veins are present beneath the outer surface of the skin.
Valves these are absent. Valves are present.
Blood Pressure The Blood flows under high pressure. Blood flows under low pressure.
Colour These are red. These are blue.
Pulse Arteries can detect the Pulse. Veins can not detect a pulse.
Lumen Arteries possess a narrow lumen. Veins possess wide lumen.
Internal Diameter Narrower 4mm Wider 5mm
Contraction of muscles The Contraction of muscles is present. Contraction of muscles is absent.
Carbon dioxide level The carbon dioxide level is low. Carbon dioxide levels are high.
Death Time Arteries are empty up at the time of death. .Veins are filled up with blood at the time of death.

Also Read: Difference between breathing and respiration