What are the fascinating facts about arteries and blood vessels in the human body. Discover the incredible capabilities of the vast network of vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Your Blood Vessels Could Circle the Globe

Though blood vessels are relatively small, the network is amazingly long. In fact, if they were laid out in a line, they would measure more than 60,000 miles in length, the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) calculates. Considering that the circumference of the Earth is 24,873.6 miles, according to NASA, that means your blood vessels could circle the globe more than twice.

They Carry a Million Barrels of Blood in a Lifetime

The blood in your body is continuously flowing. Every day, your heart pumps about 1,800 gallons of blood through your blood vessels, the NIA states. Over the course of a lifetime, this vast system carries about a million barrels of blood throughout the body.

Blood Vessels Work as a Team

The three major types of blood vessels – arteries, veins, and capillaries – all work together, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). When the heart contracts, blood is pumped into arteries that carry it away from the heart. Arteries are connected to tiny, thin-walled blood vessels called capillaries, which allow oxygen to move from the blood into the cells of the body. Then veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Serious Conditions Can Affect All Types of Blood Vessels

Most people are aware of health conditions that plague larger blood vessels, from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arties) to varicose veins. But even tiny capillaries can be affected. Capillary leak syndrome is a rare disease in which the walls of these tiny blood vessels leak, flooding surrounding tissues with blood. It can lead to severe swelling and dangerously low blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Blood Vessels Act as a Force Field for the Brain

Blood vessels are part of an important defense system known as the blood-brain barrier. A network of blood vessels and tissue comprised of closely-spaced cells helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain, the National Cancer Institute explains. The blood-brain barrier allows some essential substances, such as water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, to pass into the brain, but keeps bacteria and other dangerous substances out. Although general anesthetics can pass through the blood-brain barrier, many important medications, including some anti-cancer drugs, are unable to, presenting challenges for doctors treating many serious and debilitating diseases that affect the brain, the NCI notes.

Blood Vessels are Affected by the Weather

The circulatory system helps maintain body temperature. Blood vessels expand to release heat, allowing you to cool down, and narrow or constrict to conserve heat, according to the National Library of Medicine. In extreme cases, such as when your feet are exposed to very cold or wet conditions for prolonged periods of time — a condition called trench foot — the constriction of blood vessels can shut down circulation, causing skin tissue to die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another consequence of extreme exposure is frostbite, which can happen after just a few minutes in freezing conditions.

Chocolate May Benefit Blood Vessels

Eating moderate amounts of chocolate could offer some benefits, including keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy and helping to lower heart disease and stroke risk, according to a June 2015 study published in Heart. How does this guilty pleasure benefit your blood vessels? Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, contains micronutrients called flavonoids that are believed to have strong antioxidant properties, the American Institute for Cancer Research points out.

Brain Freeze Explained

Anyone who likes popsicles or ice water may be familiar with the uncomfortable sensation known as brain freeze. When something cold touches the warm roof of your mouth, local blood vessels constrict to minimize heat loss, then relax to restore blood flow. This response triggers a burst of pain that lasts for a few minutes, or until the body adapts to the sudden change in temperature, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains. The agency notes that ice cream headaches are more common among people who have migraines.

10 Amazing Facts About Your Blood Vessels

When people think of the body’s circulatory system, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the heart. But the heart couldn’t do its job without blood vessels: a vast system of elastic tubes made of muscle. This network of vessels carries blood to every part of your body, ensuring that your heart, lungs, and all vital organs get the oxygen and nutrients they need, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explains.

Here are 10 amazing facts about blood vessels:

1. Your blood vessels could circle the globe. Though blood vessels are relatively small, the network is amazingly long. In fact, if they were laid out in a line, they would measure more than 60,000 miles in length, the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) calculates. Considering that the circumference of the Earth is 24,873.6 miles, according to NASA, that means your blood vessels could circle the globe more than twice.

2. They carry a million barrels of blood in a lifetime. The blood in your body is continuously flowing. Every day, your heart pumps about 1,800 gallons of blood through your blood vessels, the NIA states. Over the course of a lifetime, this vast system carries about a million barrels of blood throughout the body.

3. Blood vessels work as a team. The three major types of blood vessels – arteries, veins, and capillaries – all work together, according to the NHLBI. When the heart contracts, blood is pumped into arteries that carry it away from the heart. Arteries are connected to tiny, thin-walled blood vessels called capillaries, which allow oxygen to move from the blood into the cells of the body. Then veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

4. Serious conditions can affect all types of blood vessels. Most people are aware of health conditions that plague larger blood vessels, from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arties) to varicose veins. But even tiny capillaries can be affected. Capillary leak syndrome is a rare disease in which the walls of these tiny blood vessels leak, flooding surrounding tissues with blood. It can lead to severe swelling and dangerously low blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health.

5. Blood vessels act as a force field for the brain. Blood vessels are part of an important defense system known as the blood-brain barrier. A network of blood vessels and tissue comprised of closely-spaced cells helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain, the National Cancer Institute explains. The blood-brain barrier allows some essential substances, such as water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, to pass into the brain, but keeps bacteria and other dangerous substances out. Although general anesthetics can pass through the blood-brain barrier, many important medications, including some anti-cancer drugs, are unable to, presenting challenges for doctors treating many serious and debilitating diseases that affect the brain, the NCI notes. These include brain cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

RELATED: 10 Amazing Facts About Your Heart

6. Blood vessels are affected by the weather. The circulatory system helps maintain body temperature. Blood vessels expand to release heat, allowing you to cool down, and narrow or constrict to conserve heat, according to the National Library of Medicine. In extreme cases, such as when your feet are exposed to very cold or wet conditions for prolonged periods of time — a condition called trench foot — the constriction of blood vessels can shut down circulation, causing skin tissue to die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another consequence of extreme exposure is frostbite, which can happen after just a few minutes in freezing conditions.

7. Blame that ice cream headache on your blood vessels. Anyone who likes popsicles or ice water may be familiar with the uncomfortable sensation known as brain freeze. When something cold touches the warm roof of your mouth, local blood vessels constrict to minimize heat loss, then relax to restore blood flow. This response triggers a burst of pain that lasts for a few minutes, or until the body adapts to the sudden change in temperature, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains. The agency notes that ice cream headaches are more common among people who have migraines.

8. Your blood vessels might get a boost from chocolate. Eating moderate amounts of chocolate could offer some benefits, including keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy and helping to lower heart disease and stroke risk, according to a June 2015 study published in Heart. How does this guilty pleasure benefit your blood vessels? Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, contains micronutrients called flavonoids that are believed to have strong antioxidant properties, the American Institute for Cancer Research points out.

9. Obesity takes a toll on the blood vessels. It’s estimated that every pound of fat requires about one extra mile of blood vessels, according to the Obesity Action Coalition – and that means more work for the heart. This could put added strain on the heart, notes David Zhao, MD, section chief and professor of cardiology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “Obesity has a threshold phenomenon,” Dr. Zhao explains. For someone who weighs 110 pounds, a one-pound gain isn’t going to cross the threshold and put a lot of strain on the heart and blood vessels. But for someone who is already 300 pounds, it can put a burden on the heart and increase the risk for blockages inside blood vessels, he cautions.

10. Blood vessel damage can start early. Blood vessels undergo changes with age and time, but damage can start early, even during childhood, Zhao warns. Obese teens with high blood pressure may show signs of thicker arteries by the time they are 30 years old, the American Heart Association reports. Exposure to tobacco smoke causes immediate damage not only to the lungs, but also to blood vessels throughout the body. Smoking can cause scar tissue and fats to accumulate inside blood vessels, restricting blood flow, according to the American Lung Association. Over the course of a lifetime, these insults take a cumulative toll on the blood vessels, Zhao adds. He points out that exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking are key lifestyle changes that can help protect your blood vessels.

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Quick Facts: Biology of the Blood Vessels

Quick Facts

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Reviewed/Revised Mar 2022 | Modified Sep 2022

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Blood vessels are hollow tubes like pipes that carry blood through your body. The blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body and removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide.

VIDEO

• There are 2 main kinds of blood vessels—arteries and veins

• Arteries carry fresh blood from your heart to your organs

• Veins carry waste-filled blood back to your heart

• Arteries and veins are connected by microscopic vessels called capillaries

Arteries have thick walls lined with muscle. Arteries need to be strong because blood pressure High Blood Pressure Each heart beat pushes blood through your arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. Without… read more is highest in the arteries. Muscles of your arteries constantly squeeze and relax to help adjust your blood pressure.

Veins have thin walls with only a little muscle. Blood pressure is lower in the veins. Veins can get wider to handle increased blood. Some veins have valves to keep the blood from flowing backward.

Your blood vessels and your heart Biology of the Heart The heart is a hollow organ made of muscle. The heart and blood vessels are part of your cardiovascular system. Your heart pumps blood through your blood vessels Blood carries oxygen and nutrients… read more are parts of the cardiovascular system.

Blood Vessels: Circulating the Blood

If a blood vessel is cut or tears, you bleed, either on the outside or internally within your organs. Other common blood vessel problems include:

• Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis In people with atherosclerosis, patchy deposits of fatty material (atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques) develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or blocked… read more (hardening of the arteries), in which fat deposits block your arteries

• Aneurysms Aneurysms of Arteries in the Arms, Legs, Heart, and Brain An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery. It happens from a weak spot in the artery wall. An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the different parts of your body. Veins… read more , which are bulges in weak areas of the walls of your arteries

• Blood clots can form in your veins (called deep vein thrombosis) or in your arteries, causing sudden blockage Sudden blockage of an artery Occlusive peripheral arterial disease is blockage or narrowing of an artery in the legs (or rarely the arms), usually due to atherosclerosis and resulting in decreased blood flow. Symptoms depend… read more

• Vasculitis Overview of Vasculitis Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect any size or type of blood vessel It may affect many blood vessels in many organs or just a few vessels in 1 or 2 organs The… read more , in which your blood vessels become inflamed

• Varicose veins Varicose Veins Varicose veins are veins just under your skin that become very large, twisted, and bulging. They’re usually on your legs. Varicose veins may hurt, itch, or ache Varicose veins are more common. .. read more , in which veins near the surface of your skin get enlarged and twisted

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Ten facts about vessels | Israel Medical Centers Association

1. Complex plumbing system

The total length of human blood vessels is about 100 thousand kilometers.

2. The most dangerous disease

Atherosclerosis is not only the most common disease, but also the most dangerous. The largest number of patients around the world die from it every year, half of the adult population of the planet suffers from it.

3. “Not with one heart”

Contrary to popular belief, atherosclerosis does not only lead to hypertension and myocardial infarction. This disease can affect the aorta, peripheral vessels of the lower extremities (in such cases, patients complain of pain in the legs), arteries of the brain, kidneys, etc.

4. Available information

Information about blockages in the arteries can be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, during Doppler diagnostics using ultrasound. Doppler diagnostics allows doctors to distinguish between impaired blood flow in the vessels and normal and determine the degree of blockage. During Doppler ultrasound, you can see the blood vessels and determine whether normal blood flow is preserved in them, while venous and arterial blood are visually different (have a different color). You can also do a special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called MRA to diagnose blockages in blood vessels.

5. Virtual catheterization

A type of computed tomography (CT) – computed angiography allows the diagnosis of blockage of blood vessels in a non-invasive way (without inserting a catheter into the blood vessels). The procedure includes an intravenous injection of a contrast agent and a series of CT scans. The procedure allows diagnosing circulatory disorders in various parts of the body. It is also called virtual catheterization.

6. Go around

One way to get rid of circulatory disorders caused by blockage of a blood vessel is bypass surgery. In other cases, the atherosclerotic plaque that clogs the vessel is removed mechanically, and the blood continues to flow through the free blood vessel.

7. The patient’s legs are fed

Bypass surgery does not “cleanse” the vessel, but creates an alternative blood flow path that bypasses the clogged vessel. For this purpose, a new blood vessel is used, which is taken from the patient himself. Most often – from the legs.

8. Reverse

The blood vessels through which blood flows away from the heart are different from the vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Therefore, when an artery is made from a patient’s vein, internal venous valves are removed from it. You can also turn it “back to front”, reversing its natural direction so that it works as an artery.

9. Subtle matter

The bypass operation and the technique of suturing the blood vessels were developed by the French surgeon Alexis Carrel. The method of operating technique was significantly influenced by fine embroidery, which his mother was fond of. At 1912, for his achievements in this field, Alex Carrel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

10. Finer than a hair

The thickness of the wall of a blood vessel is extremely small (about 0.5 mm), so very thin threads are used to stitch it together – thinner than a human hair. The diameter of the surgical needle is a fraction of a millimeter. The operating surgeon uses a microscope or other optical instrument.

Proctology – Specialization | Hirslanden Switzerland

The length of all blood vessels in an adult is approximately 100,000 km. All blood vessels, together with the heart, form the anatomical basis for the circulatory system and thus the transport of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

There are different types of blood vessels:

• Aorta
• Arteries
• Arterioles
• Capillaries
• Veins
• Venules
• Vena cava

Aorta (main arterial vessel of the systemic circulation)

The aorta emerges directly from the heart and is therefore called the basilar artery. It transports blood from the left chamber of the heart to the arterial vessels of the circulatory system.

Arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the organs)

Arteries are all blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body. With the exception of the pulmonary artery, which transports oxygen-depleted blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs, the remaining arteries transport oxygen-rich blood. Arteries are also called “pulsing veins” (literally from German “Schlagader”) or “pulsating veins” (literally from German “Pulsader”) (so they are called because in large arteries you can feel the pulse).

Arterioles (small arteries)

In the vascular system, arterioles are a transitional form between arteries and capillaries. They precede the capillaries and are located behind the arteries. Arterioles can expand and contract and thus regulate blood flow and blood supply to organs.

Capillaries (vessels “thinner than a hair”)

Blood capillaries (hemocapillaries) connect the venous and arterial vascular system. They are the thinnest branches of blood vessels and form the thinnest network in which the exchange of substances between blood vessels and body tissues takes place. In the system of lymphatic vessels, the lymphatic capillaries are the initial link of the lymphatic system, where the lymphatic fluid is collected.

Veins (blood vessels)

Veins carry the blood circulating in the body back to the heart. They are divided into deep and superficial veins, with more than 90% of all blood flowing through deep veins. In an adult, this corresponds to approximately 8,000 liters of blood carried daily.