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Artery is the Latin name for an artery. Arteries play very important functions in the human body, and their various ailments can cause diseases that are dangerous to our health and even life. In the following article you will learn what arteries are, how they differ from veins, as well as what functions they perform and what diseases may be associated with them.
What is an artery?
Artery, which is otherwise called an artery or arterial vessel, is a rather large blood vessel, which is primarily characterized by an impermeable wall, adequate thickness, and high flexibility. An important feature of the arteries is also the fact that they can significantly contract and relax, depending on the work of the heart and the entire circulatory system. The arterial vessels connect with the venous vessels thanks to the capillaries.
What are the functions of the arteries?
Arteries play an extremely important role in the human body. It is thanks to them that the blood is properly distributed throughout the body, traveling from the heart to all organs.
What types of arteries do we know?
Arteries are divided mainly due to their size. Therefore, we distinguish small, medium and large arteries. Small arteries are arteries of the muscle type. They are built in such a way that they can contract frequently, thanks to which they quickly and efficiently distribute blood to individual blood vessels and organs.
Medium arteries are also called mixed arteries, i.e. those that are intermediate forms between muscular and elastic arteries. This type of artery is, for example, the axillary artery as well as the external carotid artery.
The large arteries are arteries of the elastic type. They are closest to the heart and thanks to them the blood flows constantly. The most important major arteries include the aorta, brachiocephalic trunk, common and internal cervical arteries, common iliac arteries, subclavian arteries and pulmonary arteries.
How are the arteries built?
The construction of the arteries is closely related to their function. They have thick walls to work with blood pressure and are wider than veins. They are sufficiently flexible thanks to the muscles and elastic elements. The artery walls are made of a fairly thin inner membrane, an inner elastic membrane, which is made of elastic fibers, a middle membrane made of elastic fibers or laminae, collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells, an outer elastic membrane and an outer membrane composed mainly of all of collagen fibers.
How are arteries different from veins?
As already mentioned, arteries mainly have thicker and more resilient walls than veins. This appearance is associated primarily with the blood pressure that flows through the arteries, which is higher and variable. The arteries are most often connected with the veins by means of capillaries, although there are also more direct connections.
What diseases are associated with arteries?
Various diseases can be associated with the arteries. One of the most common and at the same time one of the most dangerous diseases of this type is atherosclerosis, otherwise known as arteriosclerosis. This disease is very dangerous, first of all because as a result of it the lumen of the arteries gradually decreases, and thus – life-threatening blockages are created that inhibit the proper blood flow. Atherosclerosis is a disease that usually affects people who smoke, lead an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle, use a poorly composed diet, as well as patients with diabetes, hypertension and struggle with frequent stress. The direct cause of atherosclerosis is, inter alia, cholesterol, which, together with lipids, can accumulate under the inner membrane of the artery, thus forming the fatty-lipid bands characteristic of this disease. Their calcification causes a reduction in elasticity and, above all, the reduction of the lumen of the arteries.
What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a dangerous disease, so the sooner it is detected, the better. A precise diagnosis should always be made by a physician, but there are some symptoms that may indicate that there is an atherosclerotic lesion in the arteries. In the case of the arteries of the lower extremities, the patient may experience pain in the legs, the skin may be pale and cold. Atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries associated with the heart may appear shortness of breath, numbness in the upper limbs, and a characteristic pain behind the sternum, which often radiates to the jaw or shoulders. When it comes to the arteries of the intestines, abdominal pain can occur.