Your body has a network of blood vessels over 60,000 miles in length. This amazing circulatory system includes three types of blood vessels — arteries, veins, and capillaries. Each plays an important role in carrying blood throughout your body.

Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from your heart. They have thick walls and a muscular layer that keeps your blood moving. Arteries can be as wide as a nickel (about two centimeters). They are the largest type of blood vessel in your body.

The aorta is the largest artery in your body. The aorta carries blood from your heart to your organs. Arteries have smaller branches called arterioles. Both arteries and arterioles change in size to maintain your body’s blood pressure level.

Veins carry deoxygenated blood towards your heart and are often located close to your skin. Veins don’t have a muscular layer like arteries do, so they rely on valves to keep your blood moving. Veins start as tiny blood vessels called venules, which become full-size veins as they come closer to your heart.

Veins carry deoxygenated blood towards your heart and are often located close to your skin. Veins don’t have a muscular layer like arteries do, so they rely on valves to keep your blood moving. Veins start as tiny blood vessels called venules, which become full-size veins as they come closer to your heart.

Reference:

Nicola, S. (n.d.). What’s the Difference Between Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/heart/difference-between-arteries-veins-capillaries#:~:text=Veins%20are%20closer%20to%20the