Artery
Also known as the artery or pulse vein, are vessels that lead the blood flow away from the heart.
Larger arteries are composed of three layers:
- the intima as the inner lining of the epithelium,
- the smooth muscle-elastic Media and
- the connective tissue externa or adventitia.
Large arteries have their own vascular supply (vasa vasorum). The arteries of the body circulation carry light red arterial blood; those of the lung circulation (pulmonary circulation) carry dark red venous blood.