7 Differences between Arterial and Venous Vessels in the Circulatory System
In the human circulatory system, blood is channeled throughout the body through blood vessels. There are at least three types of human blood vessels, namely arteries, veins and capillaries, each of which has different properties and even characteristics.
Here, we will specifically discuss the differences between arteries and veins, as they are arguably the main blood vessels. Knowing the difference can help you prevent health problems that may occur with these blood vessels.
Arterial and venous blood vessel differences
Broadly speaking, the main difference between arteries and veins is the direction of blood flow. Arterial blood vessels, or veins, carry blood out of the heart. Veins, on the other hand, carry blood back to the heart from the rest of the body. Hence, veins are also known as the return veins.
Not only that, here are some differences between arteries and veins in the cardiovascular system:
1. Blood carried
Arterial and venous blood vessels carry different types of blood. Blood flowing in arterial blood vessels is oxygen-rich blood. Meanwhile, veins carry blood that is low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide. Arterial blood vessels carry oxygen-rich blood and other nutrients out of the heart to circulate throughout the body. This makes arterial blood vessels carry blood that is bright red in color.
When you take a breath, oxygen fills your lungs and moves into the blood. The oxygen-rich blood then goes to the heart and is pumped to circulate by arterial vessels throughout the body. After circulating throughout the body, the oxygen level in the blood will decrease and be replaced with carbon dioxide as the residual result of burning oxygen in the organs. This low-oxygen blood will be carried back to the heart through the veins. The low oxygen content makes the veins carry dark red blood. Afterward, the heart will pump the blood to the lungs to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen. Carbon dioxide will then be released by the lungs through the process of exhaling (expiration).
2. Valves
The distinctive difference between arterial and venous blood vessels is the presence of valves. Arterial vessels do not have valves because they work according to the force of gravity. This means that the blood flow in arterial blood vessels will flow according to its destination and not return to a place where it should not. Veins, on the other hand, have one-way valves as they work against gravity to pump blood back to the heart from the rest of the body. These valves are most important in the veins of the legs and hands. The function of the one-way valves in the veins is to prevent the flow of blood back to where it started. These valves open when blood is pumped to the heart and close to prevent blood from returning to its previous location.
3. Thickness of the blood vessel wall
Another difference between arterial and venous blood vessels is the thickness of the blood vessel wall. Arteries have thicker and more elastic blood vessel walls. This is because arteries circulate blood at a higher pressure than veins. This means that the blood flow tends to be faster. This higher blood pressure is also what makes the blood from arterial vessels tend to gush profusely if the blood vessel is cut or torn Meanwhile, the walls of venous vessels are thinner and inelastic. This property helps the venous vessels to circulate a larger amount of blood over a longer period of time than arteries.
4. Volume of blood carried
The nature of the walls of arterial and venous blood vessels affects the amount of blood that flows through them. Arteries have thick, elastic blood vessels that can hold blood under great pressure. This makes arteries not hold large amounts of blood. It is estimated that only 10-15% of the blood volume flows in arteries at any one time. Veins, on the other hand, are thinner and less elastic, allowing them to hold more blood at a lower pressure. About 75% of your blood volume flows in the veins at a time.
5. Branching
Arterial and venous blood vessels also have different branching. Arteries have many branchings. The largest artery is called the aorta. The arteriaorta branches into smaller arteries called arterioles that travel to supporting organs and tissues. Arteries and arterioles can both expand or contract to maintain your blood pressure. Meanwhile, the veins have two main branches, the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. The superior vena cava carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest area towards the heart. Meanwhile, the inferior vena cava carries blood from the area below the heart towards the heart. The closer to the heart, the greater the branching of the veins.
6. Location of blood vessels
The location of arteries and veins in the body are different. Arteries are usually located deeper than the surface of the body, within the muscles. Veins, on the other hand, are located closer to the surface of the skin. So, the blood vessels that appear visible on the skin are veins.
7. Risk of disease
The next difference between arterial and venous vessels is the risk of disease that may occur. Just like other parts of the body, both arterial and venous blood vessels are also at risk of health problems that will affect the circulatory system.
Arterial disorders
Arterial disorders are mostly caused by plaque buildup in the arterial blood vessels leading to reduced elasticity and blood flow.
Here are some of the diseases that may affect the arterial blood vessels:
- Aneurysms.
- Arterial diseases, such as coronary heart arteries, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Vasculitis.
- Stenosis or narrowing of blood vessels.
- Hypertension.
Venous disorders
Meanwhile, health problems that may occur in the veins include:
- Blood clot formation in the veins.
- Varicose veins.
- Chronic venous insufficiency.
- Superficial thrombophlebitis.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
To keep your veins healthy, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as limiting foods high in fat and salt, quitting smoking or avoiding cigarette smoke, and exercising regularly. In addition, it is also a good idea to have a routine medical check-up once a year with a heart and blood vessel specialist, as blood vessel problems often cause no symptoms at first.
Thank you for reading this article. Have a nice day.
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