Difference between Artery and Vein

In closed circulatory system blood is circulated through closed vessels such as arteries, veins and capillaries.

Arteries

All blood vessels leading from the heart are called arteries or the blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to various body organs are called arteries. All arteries carry oxygenated blood (pure blood) except pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood.

The wall of the artery consists of three layers, namely tunica interna, tunica media and tunica externa.

 

Veins

The vessels which carry blood from various body organs to the heart is known as veins. All veins carry deoxygenated blood (impure blood) except pulmonary vein, which carries oxygenated blood(pure blood)

Difference Between Artery and Vein

Artery

1. Vessels which carry blood from the heart to various body parts
2. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart except pulmonary artery
3. Arteries have thick elastic muscular walls
4. Valves are absent
5. Blood flows under high pressure
Vein
1. Vessels which carry blood from the various body parts to the heart
2. Veins carry deoxygenated blood from the various body parts except pulmonary vein
3. Veins have thin non elastic walls
4. Valves are present to prevent the backward flow of blood
5. Blood flows under low pressure
Extra points:

• The study of blood vessels is called Angiology
• Variocse veins are the swollen veins formed by improper valve function