Veins and arteries are the component of the circulatory system that usually carries blood to the lungs, heart, and other body areas. Both of them carry blood but they don’t work in the same manner. Veins and arteries performed some functions in a very specialized manner. In this article, we will discuss the differences between these components.

Veins

Veins are the blood vessels that convey blood toward the heart. Many veins convey deoxygenated blood from tissues back to the heart; special cases are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, these two convey oxygenated blood to the heart.

Arteries

Arteries are the blood vessels that convey blood far from the heart. Most of the arteries convey oxygenated blood except pulmonary and umbilical arteries. Arterial formation starts from endothelial cells.

Veins VS Arteries

There is some contrast between vein and arteries that are explained in this article below.

Direction:

Veins always carry the blood towards the heart aside from pulmonary and umbilical veins.

Arteries always carry the blood far from the heart aside from pulmonary and umbilical veins. The blood which arteries carry is always oxygenated blood.

Walls:

Veins have usually thin, known flexible, and collapsible walls.

Arteries have usually thick, flexible, and more rigid walls to prevent the bursting as the pressure in arteries is higher than that of veins.

Oxygen level:

In veins, the oxygen level is low.

In arteries, the oxygen level is high.

Carbon dioxide level:

In veins, the CO2 level is high.

In arteries, the CO2 level is low.

Blood volume:

In veins, the blood volume is high.

In arteries, the blood volume is low.

Types:

Veins can be categorized into a superficial and deep vein or pulmonary and systemic veins.

Superficial veins are located in the subcutaneous tissue. Deep veins are placed in the deep fascia of the lower limb.

Pulmonary veins are an arrangement of veins that conveys oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart whereas systemic veins deplete the tissues of the body and convey deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Two kinds of arteries exist in a body that is pulmonary and systemic. Pulmonary artery normally carries the blood which is deoxygenated from the heart to lungs, for purging whereas the systemic artery shapes a system of arteries that carries the oxygenated blood from the heart to different parts of the body.

Structurally, arteries are also divided into elastic and muscular arteries. Elastic arteries are found close to the heart and consist of more elastic tissue in their walls, for example, aorta and its main branches and pulmonary artery. They are the largest as compared to other arteries in the body. Muscular arteries are relatively smaller than elastic arteries. They’re medium-sized with less elastic tissue and more muscular tissue. Examples of muscular artery include radial artery, femoral artery, splenic artery, etc

Position:

Veins normally exist nearer to the skin.

Arteries normally exist deeper in the body.

Pulse:

In veins, the pulse is not detectable.

In arteries, the pulse is detectable.

Valves:

In veins, valves exist particularly in limb to prevent the backflow of the blood as the pressure is low. In arteries, valves don’t exist aside from semilunar valves.

Broadest layer:

In veins, the broadest layer exists named “Tunica adventitia”.

In arteries, the broadest layer exists named “Tunica media”.

Vessel:

A vein is worked as a capacitance vessel.

Arteries worked as resistance vessels.

Lumen:

Veins have wide lumen i.e 2-3 cm.

Arteries have narrow lumen i.e 1-1.5cm.

Color:

Veins are usually bluish.

Arteries are usually reddish or pinkish.

The difference in color is due to light. As mentioned earlier, veins are positioned closer to the skin surface than arteries. Blue light doesn’t penetrate as much as the red light. This is why vein appears blue and arteries, being deeply positioned, appear red.

Movement:

Veins normally show the slow movement of the blood. Blood that exists in veins moves with low pressure.

Arteries normally show spurt movement of the blood which also gives heartbeat. Blood exists in the artery moves with high pressure.

At the time of death:

Veins are filled up at the time of death.

Arteries get empty at the time of death.

Common diseases:

Venous diseases include deep venous thrombosis, varicose veins, etc.

Arterial disease include atherosclerosis, angina, myocardial infarction, etc.

Conclusion

From the above article, we can conclude that both of these components play a vital role in our body and both of them are important to ensure blood supply to our organs, tissues, and cells for survival.

References:

https://study.com/academy/answer/what-are-the-differences-between-elastic-and-muscular-arteries.html

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/arteries/

https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-elastic-and-muscular-arteries/

https://www.healthline.com/health/artery-vs-vein