About Your Veins

Veins are blood vessels that return blood back to the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart. Blood moves in arteries because it is pumped by the heart. The pressure that the heart generates is lost as blood moves down arteries and in to smaller and smaller channels until it eventually gets down to capillaries.

There are two systems of veins in the leg; the deep venous system and the superficial venous system. The deep system lies deep within the muscles while the superficial system lays just below the skin. It receives very little support from the skin, and it is therefore prone to problems. It is in the superficial system that spider veins and varicose veins are actually found.

How does blood move through veins?

The pressure generated by the heart is lost in capillary beds leaving veins with very little pressure. Because there is very little pressure, there must be a system to move the blood back to the heart. Therefore, veins have a system of one-way valves.
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Veins are vessels

Veins, arteries and lymph vessels are all blood vessels belonging to a circulation system. Veins bring used blood back to the heart. When veins do not function properly, condition known as “venous insufficiency” may develop.
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Arteries carry blood away

The heart pumps blood out using one main artery that is known as the dorsal aorta. The main artery then divides and branches out in to many smaller arteries so that each region actually has its own system of arteries carrying fresh, nutrient-rich blood.
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Lymph vessels

Lymph vessels are a thin tube that carries lymph (lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.
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Blood circulation

Usually the term “circulation” is used to describe a complex system responsible for moving blood throughout our bodies.
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Venous insufficiency

Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins have a difficult time sending blood from the legs back to the heart. When this occurs, venous blood escapes from its normal path and refluxes back down in to the congested leg.
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