What is the difference between veins and arteries?

Answer by  Mable (3008)

The circulatory system is a one-way directional flow. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart and lungs to the body. Veins pick up blood that has distributed oxygen and other nutrients and return it for re-oxygenation. The returning blood is bluish in color and the bluish vessels you observe through your skin are veins. Veins also have no pulse.

Answer by  James42 (22)

Within the cardiovascular system, veins are the blood vessels which transport blood towards the heart whereas the arteries are the blood vessels which transport blood away from the heart. Typically arteries have higher blood pressure, and as such are also thicker.

Answer by  Jonah14 (640)

In essence they are the same, the main difference being that veins carry blood to the heart and arteries carry blood from the heart to all other organs of the body.

Answer by  CarolynOsborne (2804)

Arteries carry blood away from the heart. This blood has oxygen in it and goes to the extremities to provide oxygen to all the cells. When the blood turns around and starts moving from the extremities back to the heart, then it goes through veins. Venous blood has cell waste such as carbon dioxide.