Arteries are a type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body through their branches in a complex network that works in concert. Below, we will present the most important details that you need to know.

Definition of arteries

They are flexible muscular tubes that transport blood with high pressure to all tissues and organs, and branch out into smaller and smaller branches until they reach very small and precise arteries that can be seen with a microscope. The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, and it exits from the heart through the abdominal region, branching out into many other branches.

What are the arteries made of?

The artery contains a large percentage of a certain type of muscle called smooth muscle, which is controlled by hormone levels and special impulses from the nervous system. It consists of three main layers:

1. The tunica intima

It is the inner layer of the artery, made up of elastic membranes and tissues that help blood move in the right direction.

2. The tunica media

It is the middle layer, and it is the thickest layer as it consists of elastin and smooth muscle.

3. Tunica adventitia

It is the outer layer, which is made of collagen and elastin, and gives the artery extra strength, allowing it to expand and contract, which is an important property of this blood vessel for controlling blood pressure.

Types of arteries in the human body

The body is made up of three main types:

1. Elastic arteries

It is a type consisting of more flexible tissue than muscle tissue, and the extra flexibility helps to absorb and carry the blood flow inside them, and examples of this type: the aorta and the pulmonary artery.

2. Muscular arteries

It is one of the types of arteries that consist of more smooth muscle fibers than elastin tissue, which allows it to contract and relax to control blood flow. Examples of this type are: the coronary artery and the femoral artery.

3. Small arteries (arterioles)

They are very small and precise arteries, and they help distribute blood through capillary networks.

arterial function

The artery plays a very important vital role like other organs of the circulatory system, for example: blood circulates through the aorta from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the vacuoles spread throughout all organs, tissues and cells of the body, which allows it to obtain oxygen and nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

The main arteries of the body

These blood vessels branch out into an intricate network to nourish all of the gym’s organs. The following is a list of the most important arteries of the human body:

• The aorta: It is the largest artery in the body, and it transmits blood through the aortic valve from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of its branches, for example; the ascending aorta supplies the heart itself with blood through the coronary artery, while the descending aorta supplies the rest of the other branches.
• Coronary arteries arteries: It is what supplies the heart with blood. The heart, like any other muscle in the body, needs oxygen and nutrients.
• Carotid arteries arteries: They are the main blood vessels supplying the neck and head. There are two main branches, the right and the left, located in the neck. Branches branch out from them to supply blood to the brain, and other branches to supply the neck and lower face.
• Torso arteries: It includes the artery feeding the lung, the esophagus, the pericardial artery, the membrane surrounding the heart, and others feeding the spinal cord, back muscles, vertebrae, diaphragm, and skin.
• Abdomen arteries: It nourishes the organs in the abdominal region such as the liver, kidneys, stomach, diaphragm, spinal cord, intestines, and pancreas.
• Arm arteries arteries: It includes the axillary artery, and its branches supplying the upper arm and others supplying the hands.
• Leg arteries: Such as the femoral artery that carries blood to the thigh, and the feeding branches of the knees and feet.

The most common diseases of the arteries

The following is a list of the most common diseases that may affect these blood vessels:

How to keep arteries healthy

Doctors recommend the following guidelines to maintain artery health:

• Eat healthy meals rich in elements beneficial for cardiovascular health.
• Stay active and exercise regularly.
• Weight loss.
• Quit Smoking.
• Control of high blood pressure.
• Control high blood sugar levels.
• Reduce stress.

And if you are a patient with high pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol, you should adhere to the doctor’s instructions and take the prescribed medications in the specified doses.