ETYM Latin arteria windpipe, artery, Greek.
1. A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body; SYN. arteria.
2. A major thoroughfare that bears important traffic.
Vessel conveying blood from the heart; main channel.
Vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is built to withstand considerable pressure, having thick walls which contain smooth muscle fibers. During contraction of the heart muscle, arteries expand in diameter to allow for the sudden increase in pressure that occurs; the resulting pulse or pressure wave can be felt at the wrist. Not all arteries carry oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood; the pulmonary arteries convey deoxygenated (oxygen-poor) blood from the heart to the lungs.
Arteries are flexible, elastic tubes, consisting of three layers, the middle of which is muscular; its rhythmic contraction aids the pumping of blood around the body. In middle and old age, the walls degenerate and are vulnerable to damage by the buildup of fatty deposits. These reduce elasticity, hardening the arteries and decreasing the internal bore. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, can lead to high blood pressure, loss of circulation, heart disease, and death. Research indicates that a typical Western diet, high in saturated fat, increases the chances of arterial disease developing.