Okay, if you are a doctor, a nurse or if you were a better student than i was, you are probably laughing right now and asking yourself “why is there a need for an article clarifying the difference between veins and arteries”?
Well, you might think this is obvious, but you’d be surprised to know how many people out there can’t tell the difference. So, i decided to write this article so you, the loyal I’m A Useless Info Junkie reader, are not one of them.
Before we get into it though, let’s see their similarities. (the article continues after the ad)
Both veins and arteries transport blood throughout our body and are a major player in our circulator system. Moreover, they oxygenate and are responsible for removing the waste from every cell with each heartbeat. So, what’s their difference?
Well, simply said, ‘arteries’ carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the entire body while ‘veins’ carry oxygen-depleted blood from the body back to the heart. An easy way to remember that is ‘A’ for ‘arteries’ and ‘away’. Simple, right? Here’s some more interesting “blood vessels” trivia:
- Because ‘arteries’ are the ones closest to the heart, they have thicker walls in order to withstand the increased pressure coming with every pulse. In addition, arteries pulse with each and every heartbeat and that’s the reason why we use them to take our pulse.
- Although veins are more often than not depicted in blue color in medical diagrams, they are the same color as arteries. The reason they appear blue on pale skin is because light interacts with the skin and deoxygenated blood to reflect a blue tone. That’s also the reason Why Descendants Of Royal Nobility Are Called ‘Blue Bloods’
- Veins in the legs have valves that prevent backflow as they constantly have to contend with the force of gravity when taking the blood back to the heart
And now you know!
If you like what you read, then you will definitely love this one: This Is The Difference Between A ‘Lake’ And A ‘Pond’
Photo: le:Blood vessels-en.svg: Kelvinsong, derivative work: Begoon (Yellow text boxes have been added and original text on pictures was removed)
Photoshop: I’m A Useless Info Junkie
Sources: Understanding Veins and Arteries: What’s the Difference? | What’s the Difference Between Veins and Arteries? | Arteries Vs. Veins: How to Tell the Difference and Stop the Bleeding