Understanding the difference between arteries and veins is certainly very important as these two blood vessels transport blood all over the body. Furthermore, arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. In contrast, veins refer to blood vessels that carry low-oxygen blood from the various parts of the body back to the heart.
Definition of Arteries
In order to understand the difference between arteries and veins and capillaries, we must go down to the definitions. Moreover, arteries are defined as blood vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all the body tissues and organs. Furthermore, an artery comprises of three layers- the intima, the media, and the adventitia.
Definition of Veins
Veins refer to a type of blood vessel that transports deoxygenated blood from the organs back to the heart. This certainly brings out the clear difference between arteries and veins as arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other tissue Moreover, the collection of the deoxygenated blood in the veins takes place within capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels.
Difference Between Arteries and Veins
Difference between Arteries and Veins
Important difference between Arteries and Veins
| Parameter | Arteries | Veins |
| Transport direction | Carries blood away from the heart | Carries blood towards the heart |
| Type of blood | Carries oxygenated blood | Carries deoxygenated blood |
| Location | Its location is deep within the body | Its location is close to the skin |
| Colour | Their colour is red due to the oxygenated blood | Their blood is blue due to the deoxygenated blood |
| Pulmonary vessel | The pulmonary artery carries blood that is deoxygenated | The pulmonary vein carries blood that is certainly oxygenated |
| Resistance/capacitance | They are resistance blood vessels | They are capacitance blood vessels |
| Elasticity | Their walls are elastic | Their walls are not elastic in contrast to arteries |
| Tunica media | In arteries, tunica media certainly comprises of smooth and elastic muscle tissue. | Tunica media here certainly comprises of few elastic fibres and it is less muscular. |
| Lumen | The lumen in arteries is narrow | The lumen in veins is wide |
| Pressure intensity | The pressure of blood flowing is high | The pressure of blood flowing is low |
| Semilunar valves | Semilunar valves are absent except where artery exits the heart | In veins, semilunar valves are present at regular intervals so as to prevent blood backflow |
| Pulse detectability | In arteries, the pulse is certainly detectable | Pulse is not detectable here |
| Rate of blood flow | The rate of blood flow is rapid and quick | The rate of blood flow is slow and steady |
| Systematic solution | They are responsible for 30% of the systematic circulation of blood in the body | They are responsible for about 65% of the systematic circulation of blood in the body |
| Blood volume | The Blood volume is certainly low in arteries | The Blood volume is certainly much higher in veins in comparison to arteries and capillaries |
More Details about Arteries
Let us go into more details to better understand the difference between arteries and veins. Arteries certainly are blood vessels whose origin is from the heart and they carry or transport blood away from the heart. Moreover, arteries usually carry oxygen-rich blood with the notable exception of umbilical and pulmonary arteries that carry blood that is oxygen-deficient.
Elastic arteries are those that have a thick middle layer so they can stretch in response to every pulse of the heart. Furthermore, muscular arteries are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from elastic arteries and then branch them into various resistance vessels. Moreover, arterioles refer to the smallest division of arteries that facilitate transportation of blood away from the heart.
More Details about veins
Veins are blood vessels that run blood to the heart from other parts of the body. Furthermore, they carry deoxygenated blood with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical vein that carries oxygenated blood.
The location of the deep veins is within muscle tissue. This is in contrast to the superficial veins that are closer to the skin’s surface.
Furthermore, pulmonary veins transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart. Also, systematic veins transport oxygen-deficient blood back to the heart and they exist throughout the body.
FAQs About Arteries and Veins
Question 1: Explain any one difference between arteries and veins?
Answer1: One difference between arteries and veins can be with regards to the type of blood they carry. So, arteries carry oxygen-rich blood while veins carry oxygen-deficient blood.
Question 2: Explain any one structural difference between arteries and veins?
Answer 2: Veins have a collapsed or misshapen look while arteries, in contrast, have a tight cylindrical shape.
