Arteries
Arteries
Arteries (pronunciation: /ˈɑːrtəriːz/) are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to all parts of the body (tissues, lungs, etc). The term "artery" is derived from the Latin word "arteria", which means "air holder".
Structure
Arteries are composed of three layers: the intima, the media, and the adventitia. Each layer is made up of different types of cells and tissues, which give the arteries their unique properties.
Function
The primary function of arteries is to transport oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. They also help regulate blood pressure and blood flow.
Types of Arteries
There are several types of arteries, including:
- Aorta: The largest artery in the body.
- Pulmonary Arteries: These arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
- Coronary Arteries: These arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.
- Carotid Arteries: These arteries supply blood to the brain and neck.
- Femoral Arteries: These arteries supply blood to the lower limbs.
Related Terms
- Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart.
- Capillary: The smallest type of blood vessel, which connects arteries and veins.
- Vasoconstriction: The narrowing of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.
- Vasodilation: The widening of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Arteries
- Wikipedia's article - Arteries
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski