What is the Difference between Artery and Vein? – Explained!

The Difference between Artery and Vein are as follows:

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Artery:

1. Distributes blood from heart to different parts of body

2. Deep seated

3. Consists of three layers in which tunica media is well developed as tunica media is the thickest layer which maintain elasticity and contractility (can expand upto 60 times)

4. Walls are thick, hence non-collapsible and muscular with narrow lumen

5. Have no semi lunar valves blood

6. Blood flows with jerks

7. Flow of blood is fast due to great pressure

8. Except the pulmonary arteries all the arteries carry oxygenated blood

9. Arteries become empty after the death (still do not collapse as lumen stay patent because of muscular layer)

Vein:

1. Returns the blood from different parts of body to the heart.

2. Superficially situated

3. Consists of three layers in which tunica externa is well developed

4. Walls are thin, hence collapsible, and non-muscular with wider lumen.

5. Have semilunar valves which prevent backflow of blood

6. Blood flows smoothly

7. Flow of blood is slow due to low pressure

8. Except pulmonary veins, all the veins carry deoxygenated blood

9. Veins contain blood even after the death.