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Difference between Aorta and Pulmonary Arteries

Difference between Aorta and Pulmonary Arteries

The aorta and pulmonary arteries are two important parts of the cardiovascular system. The aorta is the main artery that carries carbon-dioxide rich blood away from the heart and lungs, while the pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart and lungs. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between these two types of arteries. We will also look at some of the key functions of each one.

What is Aorta?

The aorta is a large blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta begins at the left ventricle of the heart and runs down through the chest and abdomen. It is about as thick as a garden hose and is about four feet long in adults. The aorta is divided into four sections: the ascending aorta, the arch of the aorta, the descending aorta, and the abdominal aorta. The descending aorta branches off into smaller arteries that supply blood to the legs and lower body. AORTIC ANEURYSM is when there is a weak spot in any one of these four sections of the aorta that bulges or balloons outwards. AORTIC DISSECTION is when there is a tear in the inner lining of any one of these four sections of the Aorta that allows blood to flow between layers of tissue causing severe chest or back pain. AORTIC STENOSIS occurs when there is a narrowing of any one of these four sections of the Aorta making it harder for blood to flow through.

What is a Pulmonary Artery?

Pulmonary arteries are arteries that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. In humans, there is one Pulmonary Artery for each lung. The Pulmonary Artery branches into smaller arteries and eventually arterioles. Pulmonary Arteries are part of the Pulmonary Circulation system. The vast majority of blood in the Pulmonary Circulation is deoxygenated blood; however, a small amount of oxygenated blood is also present. The Pulmonary Veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. Pulmonary arteries are distinct from Pulmonary Veins; Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood while Pulmonary Veins carry oxygenated blood. The word “Pulmonary” comes from the Latin word “pulmonarius”, which means “of the lungs”.The pulmonary Artery is also sometimes called the “Arteria Pulmonalis”. The plural form of “Pulmonary Artery” can be either “Pulmonary Arteries” or “Arteries Pulmonalis”.

Difference between Aorta and Pulmonary Arteries

Aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It originates from the left ventricle of the heart and extends down to the abdomen, where it branches into smaller arteries. The pulmonary arteries, on the other hand, are two small arteries that originate from the right ventricle of the heart and carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Aorta is thicker than pulmonary arteries because it has to carry oxygenated blood (under high pressure) from the heart to all parts of the body. Pulmonary arteries are thinner because they only have to carry deoxygenated blood (under low pressure) to the lungs. Aorta is red in color because it carries oxygenated blood whereas pulmonary arteries are blue in color because they carry deoxygenated blood. Aorta is thicker than pulmonary arteries and thus can withstand higher pressure. Aorta is also longer than the pulmonary arteries. Aorta has three layers – intima, media, and adventitia whereas pulmonary arteries only have two layers – intima and media. Aorta has a Valve at its origin (the aortic valve) which opens and closes with each heartbeat and prevents the backflow of blood into the left ventricle.

Conclusion

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body and carries carbon-dioxide rich blood from other parts of the body to the heart. The pulmonary arteries are two small arteries that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. It’s important for everyone to understand these differences, especially those with a family history of heart disease.

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