The blood vessels are divided into three types, namely, arteries, veins, and capillaries. The difference of veins and arteries can be known when we see it from the side of the cardiovascular system.
Cardiovascular system responsible for supplying nutrients and oxygen to all tissues of the body. In addition, the system consists of the heart and blood vessels also carrying the remains of the results of the metabolic processes leading to disposal organ in the kidneys and lungs.
Broadly speaking, the difference of the veins and arteries of the cardiovascular system can be seen in the direction of the blood flow which it carried. Arteries carry blood from the heart throughout the body. Instead, the veins are responsible for flowing blood from the body back to the heart.
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Structure and function of blood vessels.
More about the structure and function of the blood vessels, the following explanation.
Arterial Blood Vessels.
The characteristics of structures: Arteries consist of three layers, the outermost layer is hard, the middle layer is the muscle that makes it elastic and strong and the inner layer in the form of epithelial cells (endothelial) is smooth, so that blood flows easily without barriers.
Arterial blood vessel function: Bring oxygen-rich blood from the heart throughout the body. The blood is pumped out of the heart through the Aorta. The aorta then branches into smaller structures (arteries) that spreads throughout the body.
When the heart pumps blood, the muscle wall of the arteries will expand and fill with blood. When the heart relaxes, the artery will be hardened (contraction) with a force powerful enough to push blood throughout the body. This would create an efficient circulation system.
Types of arteries:
- The Aorta is the blood vessel that connects to the left ventricle of the heart, the aorta carries blood rich in oxygen to the body tissues.
- Arterioles are blood vessels associated with capillaries.
- The arteries are a blood vessel that is connected to the right ventricle of the heart, carrying oxygen-poor blood (O2) to the lungs.
Veins.
Characteristics of a structure: such as arteries, veins also consists of three layers. However, in the vein of connective tissue and muscles are less thick, which makes it thinner compared to arteries.
Medium-sized and large veins have valves that prevent the return flow of blood due to the influence of the gravitational attraction, especially in the hands and feet. This semilunar valve will keep the blood in order to make towards the heart. On varicose veins, it is disturbing.
The function of Veins: Carry blood that is rich in carbon dioxide (CO2) back to the heart. After deoxygenated blood is passed to the capillaries, moves to the small vein called venules and then into the large vein. Pulmonary veins (lungs) are the only veins that carry oxygen-rich blood, which functions to carry the blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
Types of veins:
- Vein Cava is the blood vessels connected to the right
ventricle of the heart. Vena cava carries oxygen-poor blood and rich in carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body. - Venules are blood vessels associated with capillaries.
- Pulmonary veins are blood vessels connected to the left ventricle of the heart, its task of bringing the blood rich in oxygen from the lungs.
Table of Differences in Veins and Arteries
| Differentiator | Arteries | Veins |
| Location | Somewhat inside | A little out |
| Its function | Transport O2 | Transport CO2 |
| Vessel Wall | Elastic and strong | Thin and not elastic |
| CO2 Content | Poor CO2, except for CO2-rich pulmonary arteries | Rich in CO2, except for the CO2-poor pulmonary veins |
| O2 Content | Rich in O2, except for O2-poor pulmonary arteries | Poor O2, except for the pulmonary veins that is rich in O2 |
| Blood Flow Direction | Exit the heart | Towards the heart |
| Pulse | Feels | Not feel |
| Valve | Base | Along the veins |
| Blood flow | heavy | slow |
| If injured | shoot out | dripping |
| Vessel Diameter | Smaller than veins | Bigger than arteries |
| Color | Bright red | Dark red |
| Freezing Speed | Slow from veins | Fast from arteries |
| Pressure | Greater than veins | Smaller arteries |
Thank you very much for reading the Differences between veins and arteries, hopefully useful.
