23.5k views
0 votes
Explain the pulsatile nature of arteries vs. veins.

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Arteries carry blood away from the heart and have pulsatile nature, while veins return blood to the heart and have less prominent pulsations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Arteries and veins differ in their pulsatile nature. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and have thicker walls and smaller lumens to withstand high pressure and maintain the flow of blood. The pulsations in arteries are palpable, which is what you feel when you take your pulse.

On the other hand, veins return blood to the heart and have thinner walls and larger lumens to accommodate lower pressure. Veins also contain valves that prevent backflow of blood and assist in the unidirectional flow of blood towards the heart. Since veins have lower pressure, their pulsations are not as prominent or easily palpable as in arteries.

User Thanos Makris
by
7.6k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.