Artery

An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

Most arteries carry oxygen-rich blood, but the pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs. Arteries have relatively thick, muscular and elastic walls that help withstand and regulate blood pressure.

As arteries branch into smaller vessels, they eventually form arterioles and then capillaries.

QUICK FACT

Arteries are defined by the direction of blood flow, not by whether their blood contains oxygen.

COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH

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Clinical & Educational Context

Discussed in Health Articles & Guides

Explore how "Artery" is covered across our evidence-based editorial guides:

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