Running head: Blood Vessel Comparison 1

Blood Vessel Comparison

Elizabeth Stevens

Virginia College

AH101

Mrs. Asbury
Blood Vessel Comparison 2

Blood Vessel Comparison

Arteries and veins are two types of blood vessels that are part of the circulatory system.

Both arteries and veins are made up of three layers: the tunica intima, which lines the lumen or

interior opening of the vessel, the tunica media which is the middle layer, and the tunica externa,

or outer layer (Marieb, 2015). Artery walls are usually much thicker than those of a vein,

because they have to be strong enough to expand and retract, and take continued changes in

pressure as blood is being forced or pumped through them. Veins which are farther from the

heart have thinner walls, but larger lumen and the pressure in them tends to be low at all times.

Many of our larger veins also have valves to prevent backflow of blood; this is because a large

portion of the blood returning to the heart via our veins is fighting against gravity (Marieb,

2015).

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to different

parts of the body. There are two different types of arteries: Pulmonary and systemic. The

pulmonary arteries take blood from the heart to the lungs, where it is oxygenated, and then back

to the heart. The systemic arteries include the aorta, and all its branches, it delivers the

oxygenated blood and other nutrients to our body. Veins carry the deoxygenated blood back to

the heart for purification. Veins are typically categorized into one of four types: pulmonary,

systemic, superficial, and deep (Bailey 2017).

The circulatory system is a closed loop that includes: the heart, arteries, arterioles,

capillaries, venules, and veins. The pulmonary arteries take blood away from the heart and to the

lungs, here is oxygenated, and returned to the heart through the pulmonary veins. Oxygenated
Blood Vessel Comparison 3

blood is pumped into the aorta, the body’s largest artery, and then into its branches. Blood will

travel through the arteries into the arterioles. Arterioles are small blood vessels that branch off

of arteries and lead to the capillaries. The capillaries are the smallest of the blood vessels and

here is where oxygen and nutrients in the blood are delivered to our tissues, and the

deoxygenated blood and other waste products enter back into the bloodstream. This blood is

transported from the capillaries into the venules and then to the veins. The veins transport the

deoxygenated blood back to the heart, and this process continues on a loop.

Like I mention before the circulatory system operates on a loop unless this loop is

disrupted. A common disruption that can occur in an artery is a myocardial ischemia.

Myocardial ischemia occurs when there is a partial or complete blockage of one or more of the

hearts arteries. The blood flow to your heart is reduced, stopping it from getting enough oxygen,

and can cause heart attacks, arrhythmia, and heart failure (Myocardial ischemia, 2018). As for

the veins, common issues that can develop are Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that

forms in a deep vein. Most DVT’s occur in the lower legs or thighs, but they can happen

anywhere. The major risk associated with this is if the clot were to break free, travel through the

bloodstream, and into the lungs. .This condition can happen as result of not moving for long

periods of time; like after surgery or for those who are confined to bed.
Blood Vessel Comparison 4

References

Bailey, Regina. "Vein Function." ThoughtCo, Jun. 20, 2017, Retrieved January 7, 2018, from

https://thoughtco.com/vein-function-3975679.

Fremgen, B. F., & Frucht, S. S. (2015). Medical Terminology, A Living Language. Pearson

College Div.

Marieb, E. N. (2015-01-14). Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, 11th Edition.

[Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323294369/

Myocardial Ischemia. (2018, January 04). Retrieved January 09, 2018, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocardial-ischemia/symptoms-causes/syc-

20375417