Veins
Veins
Veins (/veɪnz/; from the Latin vena) are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, which carry oxygenated blood to the heart.
Etymology
The word vein comes from the Old French veine, which came from the Latin vena, meaning "blood vessel". The first use of the word vein in English came in the 14th century.
Structure
Veins are composed of three layers: an inner layer, or tunica intima; a middle layer, or tunica media; and an outer layer, or tunica adventitia. Each layer is made up of different types of cells and tissues.
Function
The primary function of veins is to return deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. They also play a key role in the immune system and temperature regulation.
Related Terms
- Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
- Capillary: The smallest of the body's blood vessels, they connect arteries and veins.
- Vena Cava: The two largest veins in the body, they carry blood from the body back to the heart.
- Venule: A small vein that allows blood to return from the capillary beds to the larger blood vessels.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Veins
- Wikipedia's article - Veins
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