The Basics of How Your Arteries and Veins Work

Did you know that the adult cardiovascular system is comprised of approximately 100,000 miles of arteries, veins and capillaries? It’s pretty amazing isn’t it? These important “tunnels” in your body act as major highways and country roads that carry oxygen rich blood from your heart to your body and also remove waste from tissues. It’s a big continuous loop that occurs over and over.

The size of the blood vessel is determined by the quantity of blood that travels through it. Arteries are the largest of the blood vessels. They are primarily named for the regions of the body that they serve. There are two systems continually at work, carrying blood to and from the heart.

• The smaller of the two is called the Pulmonary System. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs. This blood is enriched with oxygen and then carried back to the heart via your pulmonary veins.

• The larger of the two is called the Systemic System. This takes the oxygenated blood that the pulmonary artery provided and pumps it to the rest of the body. This process begins at the aorta, the largest artery in your body, then trickles down to the smaller arteries and capillaries until it gets to the ends of your fingertips and toes. Think of it as tree branches extending out into your body.

Once the blood has been carried to all of the areas of your body, it has to find its way back to the heart. This is the responsibility of your venous system. The job of your veins is to take the blood that has deposited the oxygen and nutrients to your body back up to your heart to get re-oxygenated by the lungs.

• Deep veins run along your muscles and bone. Your calf muscle play a very important role in pumping the blood from the legs up to the heart. It is always working against gravity so compression clothing is ideal when your leg veins are compromised. This assists the deep veins in getting the blood back up to your heart.

• Superficial veins are smaller and don’t use muscles to pump the blood. The blood moves a bit slower and it pours into the deep veins to return to the heart. Short veins are the connectors between your deep and superficial veins.

Don’t worry, a healthy vein has a unique valve system that doesn’t allow blood to run back into your legs. These valves open one way, towards the heart, like two swinging doors to a saloon. If the blood tries to move the opposite way, it “catches” it since the valves, or doors, close and won’t open the other way.

There are many ways that your cardiovascular system can get thrown off kilter. Swelling, injury, blood clotting, and weakening of vein walls are some of the issues that can affect your entire system.

If you are in experiencing any of these symptoms, Go to: www.EveinScreening.com for your FREE Online Vein screening and evaluation. Or give us a call 239-691-VEIN