Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsArteries and the HeartMajor ArteriesAnatomy of ArteriesClogged ArteriesImproving Artery Health
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Arteries and the Heart
Major Arteries
Anatomy of Arteries
Clogged Arteries
Improving Artery Health
Arteries can be thought of as a system of pipes that branch into narrower blood vessels, called arterioles, until reachingcapillaries, where oxygen exchange occurs. Arteries also have muscles that allow them to constrict and widen to regulate blood passage and blood pressure. Several serious conditions affect the arteries, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and dissection.This article will discuss arteries, including their structure, function, and ways to keep these important structures healthy.
Arteries, Blood, and the Heart
The cells and tissues that make up the body require oxygen and nutrients from the blood. You can think of the heart as a muscular pump and the blood vessels as pipes. Arteries are pipes that carry blood away from the heart, whereas veins carry blood toward the heart.
Theflow of bloodin the body is as follows: After getting oxygen from the lungs, blood travels back to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped out into the body’s largest artery, theaorta. The aorta branches into several large and medium-sized arteries that further branch into smaller arterioles.
Eventually, blood enterscapillaries, where oxygen passes from the arteries directly into tissues. The now oxygen-depleted blood travels through veins to theright side of the heart. From here, it’s pumped through thepulmonary arteriesto the lungs to pick up more oxygen. The pulmonary veins lead the now oxygen-rich blood back to the left side of the heart, where the process continues.
How Arteries Differ From Veins
Arteries and veins are both types of blood vessels. However, they have several important differences. Firstly, arteries carry blood away from the heart to the body. For the most part, arteries carry oxygen-rich blood, with the notable exception of the pulmonary artery, which carries oxygen-depleted blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs to get oxygen.
Veins, on the other hand, carry blood toward the heart. For the most part, they carry oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues in the body. The notable exception is the pulmonary veins that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart, which is pumped into arteries to go to the body.
Additionally, the structure of arteries and veins has some important differences. Arteries are thicker-walled, muscular tubes that accommodate higher pressures. Veins, on the other hand, are thinner structures that can easily dilate. Also, unlike arteries, veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood.
Location of Major Arteries
There are several major arteries in the body. The largest artery is the aorta, which carries blood from the heart and travels down through the chest and abdomen, giving off branches that lead up to the head, arms, abdominal and pelvic organs, and legs.
The body’s major arteries are:
Arteries are muscular tubes that can constrict and dilate to regulate blood flow and blood pressure in the body.
External Appearance
From the outside, arteries look like pulsating tubes. They are often depicted as red in medical illustrations (as opposed to veins, which are portrayed as blue). However, they are a shiny white, with noticeable small blood vessels surrounding them. This is the vasa vasorum, which supplies blood to the arteries themselves.
Artery Structure
Arteries have three layers, as follows:
Artery Abnormalities
Various conditions can affect arteries, such as:
Aneurysm:A weakened portion of an artery that may bulge outward and burst, causing serious complications like internal bleeding
Atherosclerosis:The buildup of plaque along the inner lining of the artery that is a major cause of cardiovascular death via heart attacks and stroke
Dissection:Tear in the intima of an artery, which can impair blood supply to organs and lead to death
Healthy vs Clogged Arteries
There are several conditions that can affect the arteries, leading to vascular disease. One of the most common conditions isatherosclerosis, which is the buildup of cholesterol plaque (a sticky substance made up of cholesterol, fat, and other components) on the inner walls of arteries.
Atherosclerosis may impair blood flow or “clog” arteries. It can lead to the formation of blood clots, which may abruptly block blood flow leading to death of the tissue or organ. Depending on the location, it can cause potentially fatal complications such asheart attackandstroke.
Risk Factors for AtherosclerosisStudies demonstrate that atherosclerosis can start as early as childhood, though it progresses and becomes much more common with advancing age.Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:SmokingHigh blood pressure (hypertension)High cholesterol (dyslipidemia)DiabetesHaving family members with the condition
Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis
Studies demonstrate that atherosclerosis can start as early as childhood, though it progresses and becomes much more common with advancing age.Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:SmokingHigh blood pressure (hypertension)High cholesterol (dyslipidemia)DiabetesHaving family members with the condition
Studies demonstrate that atherosclerosis can start as early as childhood, though it progresses and becomes much more common with advancing age.Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:
How to Improve Artery Health
The following lifestyle habits are recommended tokeep your arteries as healthy as possible, and to prevent cardiovascular disease:
When to Seek HelpIf you develop symptoms of a blockage or tear in an artery, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Symptoms include:Chest discomfort and shortness of breathSudden pain in an extremity (arm or leg), with numbness, tingling, pale and cold skinSudden weakness on one side of the body and/or face, difficulty speaking, walking, or balancingSudden tearing chest discomfort radiating to the backSudden pain on one side of the face or neckSudden vision changes
When to Seek Help
If you develop symptoms of a blockage or tear in an artery, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Symptoms include:Chest discomfort and shortness of breathSudden pain in an extremity (arm or leg), with numbness, tingling, pale and cold skinSudden weakness on one side of the body and/or face, difficulty speaking, walking, or balancingSudden tearing chest discomfort radiating to the backSudden pain on one side of the face or neckSudden vision changes
If you develop symptoms of a blockage or tear in an artery, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Symptoms include:
You can discuss with your healthcare provider whether screening for aortic conditions is right for you. For example, the following people are at higher risk of aortic aneurysm and some guidelines recommend screening with medical imaging such as ultrasound:
Summary
Arteries are tubular structures that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Systemic arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body, whereas pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs to get more oxygen.
Several conditions can affect arteries, including aneurysm and atherosclerosis. To keep your arteries healthy, practice healthy lifestyle habits like getting regular exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking, and treating risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.Spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
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