Arteries and veins are the components of our circulatory system which carry

blood around the body. The differences between each are listed below: 1)
Since arteries receive blood directly from the heart they must be able to
withstand the immense pressure of the blood as it is forced out of the heart.
Whereas veins carry blood towards the heart. 2) Blood is under great
pressure in arteries; hence it flows fast, in spurts, reflecting the rhythmic
pumping action of the heart. In veins the blood is not under great pressure,
hence it flows more slowly and smoothly. 3) Arteries have thick and elastic
muscular walls. The strength of an artery to resist pressure comes largely
from thee elastic fibres. While veins have relatively thin and slightly muscular
walls. 4) Arteries have no valves but veins internal valves along their length
to prevent back flow of blood. These valves are folds of the inner walls,
shaped like half-moons i.e. Semi-lunar valves. Arteries are the carriers of red
oxygenated blood (exception: Pulmonary arteries which carry de-oxygenated
blood from the heart to the lungs). Whereas veins carry bluish-red deoxygenated blood (exception: Pulmonary veins which carry oxygenated blood
from the lungs to the heart)

Why are veins darker in colour than arteries?

Veins are not actually darker than arteries. In fact, on dissection, veins and arteries
are both a whitish color. The reason that they are more visible is because there are
larger veins that are located closer to the surface of the skin than arteries. Veins
also tend to have thinner walls, making the blood inside them more visible.

Why veins of rat generally have wider diameter and a darker color than
arteries?

Veins are darker than arteries because they have thin walls, and the darker blood
shows through them more easily. Arteries are lighter in color because they have
thicker walls containing connective tissue which is lighter in color in preserved
material. The veins probably look wider because they collapse when the heart stops
beating. When they collapse, they flatten out, making them wider.
2) Branches.The only branches of the ascending aorta are the two coronary
arteries which supply the heart; they arise near the commencement of the aorta
immediately above the attached margins of the semilunar valves.

The Coronary Arteries.The Right Coronary Artery (a. coronaria [cordis] dextra)
arises from the right anterior aortic sinus. It passes at first between the conus
arteriosus and the right auricula and then runs in the right portion of the coronary
sulcus, coursing at first from the left to right and then on the diaphragmatic surface

of the heart from right to left as far as the posterior longitudinal sulcus, down which
it is continued to the apex of the heart as the posterior descending branch. It gives
off a large marginal branch which follows the acute margin of the heart and supplies
branches to both surfaces of the right ventricle. It also gives twigs to the right
atrium and to the part of the left ventricle which adjoins the posterior longitudinal
sulcus.
The Left Coronary Artery (a. coronaria [cordis] sinistra), larger than the right, arises
from the left anterior aortic sinus and divides into an anterior descending and a
circumflex branch. The anterior descending branch passes at first behind the
pulmonary artery and then comes forward between that vessel and the left auricula
to reach the anterior longitudinal sulcus, along which it descends to the incisura
apicis cordis; it gives branches to both ventricles. The circumflex branch follows the
left part of the coronary sulcus, running first to the left and then to the right,
reaching nearly as far as the posterior longitudinal sulcus; it gives branches to the
left atrium and ventricle. There is a free anastomosis between the minute branches
of the two coronary arteries in the substance of the heart.
3) What series of blood vessel does blood flow from the heart to brain?

In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the
head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the
external and internal carotid arteries.

The common carotid artery is a paired structure, meaning that there are two in the
body, one for each half. The left and right common carotid arteries follow the same
course with the exception of their origin. The right common carotid originates in the
neck from the brachiocephalic trunk. The left arises from the aortic arch in the
thoracic region.

arteries have oxygenated blood to supply tissues with oxygen- aorta ejects
blood from left ventricle of the heart to the carotid artery- this blood then
enters the circle of willis which supplies other arteries of the brain.

veins bring the blood back to the heart for re-oxygenation. there are a various
layers of sinuses -venous drainage from the brain into the jugular vein to the
superior vena cava to the heart for re-oxygenation.

`main vessels are carotid artery and internal jugular vein for brain