Veins have thinner walls compared to arteries as they carry blood back to the heart at lower pressure. Veins have valves to ensure one-directional blood flow, preventing backflow.
What distinguishes veins from arteries in terms of structure, and why do veins have valves?
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Veins differ from arteries in structure as they carry blood back to the heart at lower pressure. Veins have thinner walls, as the blood they transport is no longer under high pressure. To prevent the backflow of blood, veins are equipped with one-way valves. These valves ensure unidirectional blood flow, particularly important since veins are working against gravity on the return journey to the heart. The combination of thinner walls and valves helps veins efficiently collect deoxygenated blood from various organs and return it to the heart, maintaining circulatory function while preventing the pooling or backward flow of blood.