8 Difference Between Arteries , Veins and Capillaries

Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries are all types of Blood Vessels that are part of the Circulatory System.

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body’s tissues. They have thick walls to withstand the high pressure created by the Pumping of the heart.

Veins are blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Veins have thinner walls than arteries and depend on the contraction of muscles and the presence of valves to return the blood to the heart.

Also Check –15 Important Differences Between Arteries and Veins 

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body and are responsible for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and the body’s tissues. Capillaries have the thinnest walls of all blood vessels, which allows for the efficient diffusion of gasses and other molecules.

5 Structural Difference between Arteries Veins and Capillaries

5 Structural difference between Arteries Veins and Capillaries with Explanation of How structure is Related to Function

ArteriesVeinsCapillaries
1Arteries are thick and Strong.Veins are thin.Capillaries are very thin
2Arteries contain Muscles, Elastic Fibers and Fibrous tissues that withstand the high pressure of the blood emerging from the heart. Veins contains mainly Fibrous tissue.Contain far less muscle and elastic tissue than Artery.No need for strong walls, as most of the blood pressure has been lostCapillaries have  permeable wall,one cell thick,with no muscle or elastic tissue.No need for strong walls, as most of the blood pressure has been lost.
3Lumen of Artery is NarrowLumen is wide in Veins.Wide lumen offers less resistance to blood flow.Lumen is very Narrow
4Size of Artery Lumen Varies , it increases as a pulse of blood passes throughSize of capillary Lumen is approximately one red blood cell wide
5Valve is absent in ArteryValve is present in Vein to prevent the backflow of blood (to maintain unidirectional flow).Valve is absent in Capillaries
5 Structural difference between Arteries Veins and Capillaries

Also Check – Why is it necessary to separate Oxygenated and Deoxygenated Blood

Also Check – Arteries – Structure , Layers,  Functions

3 Functional Differences between Arteries Veins and Capillaries

ArteriesVeins Capillaries
1They carry oxygenated blood from the Heart to various organs of the body except pulmonary arteries.They collect deoxygenated blood from different organs of the body and bring back to the heart except the pulmonary vein.They help in exchange of materials between blood  and surrounding cells that takes place across the thin walls of capillaries.Take away waste products
2Carries blood at high pressure –the Thick and Strong wall prevents bursting and maintains pressure waves.  The large arteries, near the heart, have a greater proportion of elastic tissue, which allows these vessels to stand up to the surges of high pressure caused by the heartbeat.Contraction of body muscles, particularly in the limbs, compresses the thin-walled veins. The valves in the veins prevent the blood flowing backwards when the vessels are compressed in this way. This assists the return of venous blood to the heart.Thin walls and narrow lumen bring blood into close contact with body tissue, allowing diffusion of materials between capillary and surrounding tissues.
3Helps to maintain high blood pressure .High pressure prevents blood flowing backwards.Carries Deoxygenated blood to the heart at low pressureWhite blood cells can squeeze between cells of the wall. Blood cells pass through slowly to allow diffusion of materials and tissue fluid.
Functional Differences between Arteries Veins and Capillaries

Also Check – Why Do Arteries Have Thick Elastic Walls ?

Also Check – Types and Functions of Blood Vessels Class 10

Also Check – Describe the Flow of Blood through the Heart of Human Beings

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