ARTERIES & VEINS

CIRCULATION
ARTERIES & VEINS
Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.
Veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart.
Blood begins its vascular system voyage at the right side of the heart,
where the pulmonary artery is located. This artery carries the oxygen-
poor blood to the lungs where it receives oxygen from the alveoli and
rids of carbon dioxide.
The pulmonary vein then carries oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
The blood travels to the left side of the heart and is pumped throughout
the entire body.
The main and largest artery leading from the heart to the rest of the
body is called the aorta.
As blood travels, it moves from large arteries to smaller and smaller
vessels. In this way every individual cell is delivered oxygen and
essential nutrients in order to function properly. The blood also picks up
waste material and carbon dioxide from the cells it visits.
The blood then begins a trip back to the heart through veins. First
moving through smaller veins then entering larger and larger veins as it
goes moves closer to the heart. The blood also passes through the liver
to drop of waste products . Eventually it returns to the right side of the
heart and the cycle begins again.
ARTERIES
Arteries are tough, elastic tubes that carry
blood away from the heart. As the arteries
move away from the heart, they divide into
smaller vessels. The largest arteries are
about as thick as a thumb. The smallest
arteries are thinner than hair. These
thinner arteries are called arterioles.
Arteries carry bright red blood. The color
comes from the oxygen that it carries.
VEINS
Veins carry the blood to the heart. The
smallest veins, also called venules, and
are very thin. They join larger veins that
open into the heart. The veins carry dark
red blood that doesn't have much oxygen.
Veins have thin walls. They don't need to
be as strong as the arteries because as
blood is returned to the heart, it is under
less pressure.
Arteries & Veins
Similarites
Both arteries and veins are blood
vessels which make up the circulatory
system.
Arteries and Veins both carry blood in
tubes throughout the body.


Differences
Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood
away from the heart.
Veins carry oxygen-poor blood to
the heart.
Arteries have thick, elastic walls
which constantly change their size
in order to cope with fluctuating
pressure from the strong pumping
of the heart.
Veins have very thin walls and do
not contract.
Blood in arteries moves faster than
the blood in veins as they are under
greater pressure.
Blood flow in veins depends on
valves which prevents the
backward flow of blood and
surrounding muscles.