Veins and Arteries

Our bodies have both arteries and veins. In general, arteries carry oxygenated blood to the rest of the body and the veins return deoxygenated blood back to the lungs. Because the arteries carry blood under high pressures, they are muscular and thick walled. They are able to withstand high pressures and stress. Veins on the other hand have very little muscle and are thin walled. They do not have ability to withstand high pressures. Infact veins have a great propensity to get larger and get bigger.

Every organ of the body is supplied by arteries and veins. Diseases can affect both arteries and veins.

In general diseases which affect arteries affect blood supply to the organs and diseases which affect veins usually prevent blood from going back to the lungs. The major cause of disease of veins is blood clots. The major cause of disease of arteries is atherosclerosis.