Comparison between artery and vein

Artery	Vein
1.        Direction of blood flow is from heart to other body parts	Direction of blood flow is from body parts to heart
2.        Carries oxygenated (pure) blood (except in pulmonary artery)	Carries deoxygenated (impure) blood (except in pulmonary vein)
3.        Blood flows in high pressure and speed	Blood flows in low pressure and speed
4.        Thicker and more elastic wall	Thinner and less elastic
5.        Narrow lumen	Wide lumen
6.        Deep seated in position	Generally found superficial in position
7.        Valves are absent	Present
8.        Tunica interna (innermost layer) is more developed and elastic. Elongated endothelial cells are present in this layer	Tunica interna is less developed and elastic. Endothelial cells are less flat
9.        Tunica media (middle layer) is more muscular with many elastic fibres	Tunica media is less muscular with few elastic fibres
10.     Tunica externa (outermost layer) is less developed so less strong	Tunica externa is more developed so more strong
11.     After death, arteries become empty	After death, veins will contain blood

Posted in: Comparison,Physiology and anatomy