Artery

Definition

An artery is a blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to various parts of the body. They have thick, elastic walls to withstand high pressure generated by the heart's contractions.

Related terms

Capillary: A small, thin-walled blood vessel where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged with tissues.

Vein: A blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood back towards the heart from the body tissues.

Blood Pressure:

The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, primarily arteries