2007-02-24 17:51:34 · 6 answers · asked by SKAJIGO M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back towards the heart.
Veins have valves that prevent the blood in them from flowing away from the heart instead of towards it.
You can see this by holding one finger on one of the veins on the top of the back of your hand and pushing down and holding it while you push the blood out of it while keeping the first finger in place. It won't fill up again until you let go.
Generally blood flowing away from the heart in arteries is oxygenated and blood flowing back to the heart in veins is not.
The important exception to remember is that pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated, and pulmonary veins carry the oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs.
2007-02-24 17:56:36 · answer #1 · answered by BP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So besides all the great answers other have added arteries are much better for large pressure. Infact in coronary bypass surgeries arteries are replacing veins as replacements. Also arteries are not able to be victim or varicose unlike veins. This condition is caused by a pooling of blood often found in faulty valves.
2007-02-25 06:17:32 · answer #2 · answered by pacmanpacattack 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Arteries carry oxygenated "pure" blood from the heart towards other parts of the body.
Veins carry de oxygenated blood or "impure" blood from various parts of the body towards the heart.
Basically, both arteries and veins are " blood vessels ".
2007-02-25 02:01:30 · answer #3 · answered by lock j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
***differences***
>Ateries:
1. Carry blood away from the heart .
2. Blood is under great pressure in arteries, hence it flows fast, in spurts, reflecting the rhythmic pumping action of the heart.
3. Have thick and elastic muscular walls.
4. Have no valves.
5. Carry red oxygenated blood (exception: pulmonary arteries which carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs) .
>Veins:
1. Carry blood towards the heart.
2. Blood is not under great pressure in veins, hence it flows more slowly and smoothly.
3. Have relatively thin, slightly muscular walls.
4. Have semi-lunar valves along their lengths to prevent backflow of blood.
5. Carry bluish-red deoxygenated blood (exception: pulmonary veins which carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart .
***similarities***
-Endothelial lining (endothelium)
-Elastic / fibrous layer (internal & external elastic lamina)
-Circular smooth muscle (media)
2007-02-25 02:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by alter ego333 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to vital parts of the body and veins carry blood to the heart to be oxygenated. Hope this answers your question.
2007-02-25 01:58:41 · answer #5 · answered by xoxo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Veins are thin-walled vessels because the blood in them has lost most of its surging pressure. They carry blood back to your heart. Arteries are tubes with thick, muscluar walls to withtstand the pumping surges of the heart. They carry blood away from your heart.
2007-02-25 02:04:12 · answer #6 · answered by Fire Lt. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋