Question

Why arteries have thick, elastic walls, while veins have thin walls?

• A. Arteries are under more pressure, while veins are under less pressure.
• B. Arteries are big, while veins are small.
• C. Arteries have valves, while veins don't have valves.
• D. None of these.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Arteries are under more pressure, while veins are under less pressure.

There are two types of blood vessels in the circulatory system of the body :i) arteries that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to various parts of the body; and ii)veins that carry blood towards the heart for oxygenation. Since the blood pumped from the heart into the arteries flows at higher pressure than the blood in veins, hence arteries need to have thicker walls or else the high blood pressure might cause them to burst.