Arteries, part of your circulatory (cardiovascular) system, are the blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood from your heart to all of your body’s cells. They play a crucial role in distributing oxygen, nutrients and hormones throughout your body. Arteries keep your body alive and healthy by delivering what your cells and tissues need.
Types of arteries
You have two types of arteries that have slightly different functions. Both have a role in carrying oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body’s tissues.
The first type, elastic, is like when a football player catches the ball, absorbing the force from the throw. This is the type that gets your blood from your heart before passing it on to other arteries.
The second type, muscular, is like when they run down the field with the ball, getting it to where it needs to go. This is your blood going to your body’s tissues.
The two types of arteries are:
- Elastic: Have more elastic tissue than muscular arteries and are located close to your heart. Examples: Aorta and pulmonary artery.
- Muscular: Have more smooth muscle than elastic arteries. Examples: Femoral, radial and brachial arteries.
How are arteries different from veins?
Arteries
- Take oxygen-rich blood away from your heart and distribute it to your whole body.
- Have strong, muscular walls that can handle the high pressure of blood your heart pumps out with each heartbeat.
- Don’t need valves because the force of the blood coming from your heart ensures the blood only goes in one direction.
Veins
- Bring blood back to your heart after your body’s cells and tissues have taken the oxygen out of it. This is known as oxygen-poor blood or deoxygenated blood.
- Have thinner walls because the pressure inside them isn’t as high as it is in arteries.
- Have valves inside them to keep blood from moving in the wrong direction.
