Are arteries blood vessels?

Human arteries can develop many diseases. For example, when people reach old age, they are prone to diseases such as atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis. These arterial diseases are relatively serious and can cause patients to experience symptoms such as pain. Severe cases can also cause other complications and may even endanger life safety. Therefore, the health of arteries is very important. Many people often cannot distinguish between arteries and blood vessels. Are human arteries actually blood vessels?

Are arteries blood vessels?

Arteries are a type of blood vessels. Blood vessels include arteries, veins and capillaries.

Blood vessels are the series of tubes through which blood flows. Blood vessels are divided into three types according to their structure and function: arteries, veins and capillaries.

Arteries are blood vessels that branch out from the heart and eventually terminate at capillaries within the tissues. Arteries transport blood from the heart and are subject to greater internal pressure, resulting in faster blood flow. Simply put, it is the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to various parts of the body.

Veins are blood vessels that originate from capillaries and carry blood from organs and tissues throughout the body back to the heart. Simply put, it is the pipe in the cardiovascular system that guides and transports blood back to the heart.

Capillaries are the thinnest blood vessels, with an average diameter of about 6 to 9 μm, and are the most widely distributed. Its function is to facilitate the exchange of substances between blood and tissues. Arteries and veins are directly connected to capillaries.

Blood vessels are the series of tubes through which blood flows. Except for the cornea, hair, nails, teeth and epithelium, blood vessels are distributed throughout the human body. Blood vessels are divided into three types according to their structure and function: arteries, veins and capillaries.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a common disease, especially in adults over 60 years old. Of course, the commonly mentioned atherosclerosis is actually just a diagnostic category. Strictly speaking, atherosclerosis covers four areas of disease. Lesions in different areas will have different degrees of impact on patients.

1. Coronary heart disease: Coronary heart disease is the occurrence of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries, which causes narrowing or blockage of the coronary artery lumen. Coronary heart disease can manifest as fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and if not treated properly, it can develop into heart failure.

2. Cerebrovascular disease: Once the cerebral blood vessels are diseased, it can lead to obstruction of blood supply to the brain, thereby causing brain diseases. Fatal or non-fatal stroke and transient ischemic attack are common clinical manifestations.

3. Peripheral arterial disease is more common, generally affecting the arteries of the lower limbs, and can manifest as intermittent claudication or severe limb ischemia, such as skin atrophy, cyanosis, ulcers and gangrene.

4. Large artery disease, mainly manifested as thoracic aortic aneurysm or abdominal aortic aneurysm. A thoracic aortic aneurysm that exceeds the normal thoracic aortic inner diameter by 50% can be defined as a thoracic aortic aneurysm, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm if the abdominal aortic inner diameter is ≥3cm. The greatest risk of an aneurysm is rupture, and the risk of rupture is proportional to the size of the aneurysm. Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms are dangerous and have a hidden onset, and diagnosis relies on ultrasound or CT angiography.