Why are there more veins than arteries?

Here's a good question! OK, blood flows, in general out from the heart to the periphery and back to the heart. Pressure is high in the arteries, low in the veins. read more

So, arteries are smaller and muscular to control blood pressure and flow - the smallest vessels have the biggest effect - since the pressure in the arteries is perhaps 10 times the veins, the veins need only be about 1.8 times wider than the arteries to have the same resistance. read more

Because of their thinner walls, veins tend to be larger than the corresponding artery in the area, so they hold more blood, making collection easier and faster. Finally, it is somewhat safer if a small embolism (bubble in the blood) is introduced into a vein rather than an artery. read more