Veins and arteries are essential elements in human life. They are responsible for transporting blood that runs through each body to fulfill its vital functions, such is the case of breathing and conduction of nutrients.
It is of great interest to know everything about them, since normally we do not know exactly their characteristics and functions. To better understand them, we are going to describe their functions and finally, their differences.
What is a vein?
A vein is a conduit responsible for transporting blood from the blood capillaries to the heart. Normally the veins carry carbon dioxide (CO 2) and deoxygenated blood back to the heart. However, there are some veins that carry oxygenated blood, and even when carrying blood back to the heart, the pressure in them decreases.
It is common to find veins at a more superficial level, which can be observed and palpated, mainly in the arms, wrists and hands.
What is an artery?
It is a conduit whose main function is to transport blood from the heart to the rest of the body of a living being. Specifically, the blood carried by the arteries is oxygenated, which is why it tends to be a lighter or brighter red color.
The fact that the function of the arteries is to transport blood directly from the heart implies that the blood pressure in them is higher. Blood pressure varies as a function of cardiac contraction, which is called systolic pressure and at its minimum as diastolic pressure. The walls of the arteries are very elastic and resistant.
Differences between vein and artery
- A vein is a conduit responsible for transporting blood from the body to the heart, unlike the artery that is responsible for transporting blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
- Almost all veins carry deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide, except the umbilical and pulmonary veins. Arteries carry oxygenated blood throughout the body.
- In the human body there is less presence of veins than arteries.
- The veins are faintly visible on the skin, and the arteries are deeper so they cannot be easily seen
- The blood carried by the veins is darker due to carbon dioxide, in the case of arteries, the blood is lighter and brighter due to oxygen and lack of carbon dioxide.
- The veins work with lower blood pressure, the pressure of the arteries being much higher.
