Difference between Arteries and veins: Usually people get confused between the two blood vessels of the circulatory system as oftentimes people think that they are the same thing but there are differences between arteries and veins. One of the major differences between arteries and veins is that arteries carry oxygenated blood to all body parts, whereas veins carry deoxygenated blood to the heart. Based upon the direction of transport, color, pulmonary vessel, elasticity, lumen, pressure intensity, etc. there are other differences which are compiled below.
Difference between Arteries and veins
The vascular system also called the circulatory system, is made up of the vessels that carry blood and lymph throughout the body. The arteries and veins carry blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues and taking away tissue waste matter. They form a complete loop, starting and ending at the heart. The human body contains around 60 thousand miles of blood vessels.
The differences between arteries and veins are that arteries carry the blood away from the heart while veins carry the blood toward the heart. Also, the color of arteries is red due to the presence of oxygenated blood whereas, veins are blue due to the presence of deoxygenated blood. The other differences between Arteries and Veins are tabulated below:
| Parameters | Arteries | Veins |
| Transport direction | Carries blood away from the heart | Carries blood toward 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 color 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 |
| Valves | Valves are absent. | Valves are present. |
| Elasticity | Elasticity | Their walls are not elastic in contrast to arteries |
| Tunica media | In arteries, tunica media certainly comprises smooth and elastic muscle tissue. | Tunica media here certainly comprises of few elastic fibers 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 | These are absent except where the 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 the arteries | The Blood volume is certainly much higher in veins in comparison to arteries and capillaries |
Definition of Arteries
Arteries are elastic, muscular tubes. These blood vessels operate at a high pressure to help transport oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body. Finally, the smallest arteries, called arterioles are further branched into small capillaries, where the exchange of all the nutrients, gases, and other waste molecules is carried out.
Types of Arteries
There are three different types of arteries:
- Elastic arteries: These arteries are also known as conducting arteries that have a thick middle layer that stretches in response to each heart pulse.
- Muscular arteries: These are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from elastic arteries.
- Arterioles: These direct the blood into the capillaries. These are arterial divisions that transport blood away from the heart.
Definition of Veins
Veins are the blood vessels present throughout the body. They are tube-like, translucent structures that function by carrying deoxygenated blood from the tissues to the heart for re-oxygenation. Compared to arteries, veins are thin-walled.
Types of Veins
The different types of veins include:
- Deep veins: These veins usually have a corresponding artery nearby and are in muscle tissue. These veins may have a one-way valve to prevent blood from flowing backward.
- Superficial veins: These veins do not have an artery with the same name nearby and are close to the surface of the skin. They may also have a one-way valve.
- Pulmonary Veins: These transport oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs.
- Systemic Veins: These are present throughout the body and transport deoxygenated blood to the heart for purification.