Why Do Arteries Have Thick Walls? | Understanding the Human Circulatory System

Last Updated on Jul 31, 2023
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Arteries, the principal blood vessels in the human body, have the vital role of transporting oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Their thick walls are a necessity to withstand the high pressure exerted by the heart when pumping blood. This unique characteristic of arteries not only aids in sustaining blood pressure but also regulates blood flow.

Further Reading: Human Circulatory System

Let’s delve deeper into the topic of arteries, the essential blood vessels.

Blood, a key fluid connective tissue, along with blood cells and blood vessels, form an integral part of the circulatory system . This system is present in almost all living organisms, including animals, birds, insects, and humans and consists of the heart, blood cells, and blood vessels.

Further Reading: Blood and its Components

What Exactly are Arteries?

Arteries are the blood vessels that form a network of pathways for oxygenated blood to travel from the heart to the body's cells, tissues, and organs.

Arteries are classified into three types:

  • Elastic arteries
  • Muscular arteries
  • Arterioles

Arteries, compared to other blood vessels, have thicker walls and are located closer to the skin surface. This is primarily because they are responsible for delivering oxygenated blood throughout the body under significant pressure. If these blood vessels were to have thinner walls, they could get damaged, leading to blood loss due to the rupture of blood vessels.

Further Reading: Differences between Arteries and Veins

This article provides a brief introduction to arteries and explains why they have thick walls. Stay tuned for more detailed information about arteries, veins, blood cells, blood vessels, and other related topics, at Biology Section .

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Frequently Asked Questions

The main function of arteries is to circulate or to carry oxygenated blood from the heart to different parts of the human body.

Arteries have thick walls because they have to withstand the high pressure released from the heart during the process of pumping the blood. These thick walls help in maintaining blood pressure by controlling blood flow.

There are three different types of arteries: Elastic arteries, Muscular arteries, and Arterioles.

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