Arteries and veins are two of the body’s main type of blood vessels through which blood flow in the body. The arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart while the veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissue capillaries back towards the heart.
Image Source: West Florida Vein Center and Wapcaplet, Yaddah.
Interesting Science Videos
Here are some of the differences:
| S.N. | Character | Arteries | Veins |
| 1. | Definition | Blood vessels transport blood away from the heart. | Blood vessels transport blood to the heart for oxygenation. |
| 2. | Color | Arteries look Red. | Veins look Blue (But they aren’t actually blue, blue lights are just reflected in our eyes). |
| 3. | Position | Usually positioned deeper within the body. | Usually positioned closer to or beneath the surface of the skin. |
| 4. | Transport/Carry | Oxygenated blood except for the pulmonary artery. | Deoxygenated blood except for pulmonary vein in adult circulation and umbilical vein in fetal circulation. |
| 5. | Oxygen level | Oxygen levels are quite high in arterial blood. | The oxygen level is low comparatively. |
| 6. | Carbon-dioxide level | The CO2 level is low in arterial blood. | The CO2 level is high in venous blood. |
| 7. | Volume of blood | Low (About 15%) | High (About 65%) |
| 8. | Structure | 3 layers of tissue: Outer coat (Tunica adventitia)The middle coat (Tunica media)The inner coat(Tunica intima) | Also, possess the same 3 layers but are all much thinner. |
| 9. | Tunica adventitia | Less developed. | More developed. |
| 10. | Tunica media | More muscular. | Less muscular. |
| 11. | Tunica intima | Endothelial cells are more elongated. | Endothelial cells are less elongated. |
| 12. | Thickest layer | Tunica media | Tunica adventitia |
| 13. | Walls | Much stronger and rigid than veins. | Less strong or collapsible walls. |
| 14. | Muscularity | More | Less |
| 15. | Flexibility | Highly flexible | Not very flexible |
| 16. | Lumen | Much narrower lumen | Comparatively wide |
| 17. | Blood pressure | Higher in arteries | Lower in veins |
| 18. | Movement of blood | Spurty movement | Sluggish movement |
| 19. | Pulse (wrist) | Detectable (radial artery) | Not detectable. |
| 20. | Valves | Absent (except for semi-lunar valves). | Contain valves to help keep blood flowing in the right direction. |
| 21. | Pathway of blood flow | Very distinct | Sometimes indistinguishable because of many interconnections |
| 22. | Collapsing of vessel | Would generally remain open if blood flow stopped, due to their thick muscular layer. | Would collapse if blood flow stops. |
| 23. | Injury to the Blood Vessel | Squirting blood | Pooling of blood |
| 24. | Contraction of muscle | Present | Absent |
| 25. | At the time of death | Arteries empty up at the time of death. | Veins get filled up at the time of death. |
| 26. | Types | Pulmonary arteries Systemic arteries | Deep veins Superficial veins Pulmonary veinsSystemic veins |
| 27. | Associated Diseases | Atherosclerosis, Angina Pectoris, Artherogenesis- myocardial ischemia. | Deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins. |
References
- Tuitui, R., & Suwal, D. S. (2010). Human Anatomy and Physiology. Kathmandu: Vidyarthi Prakashan.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/artery-vs-vein#takeaway
- https://www.sharecare.com/health/circulatory-system-health/what-difference-between-an-artery-and-a-vein
- https://www.diffen.com/difference/Arteries_vs_Veins
- http://www.microbiologynotes.com/differences-between-artery-and-vein/
- https://microbiologyinfo.com/difference-between-arteries-and-veins/
- https://www.bioexplorer.net/differences-between-arteries-and-veins.html/
