Vascular Anomalies Overview
The vascular system transports blood throughout the body. There are three major vessels used to transport blood: arteries, veins, and capillaries.
The first vessel type of this system is the arteries, which are large vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Once blood goes through an artery, it spreads to tiny vessels called capillaries. Huge numbers of these tiny capillaries are spread throughout the body, supplying blood to the cells that need it.
When blood is finished traveling from the capillaries to the tissues of the body, most of it enters the veins and travels back to the heart.
However, some of the blood, plus other proteins and nutrients, leaks through your tissues and can not enter the veins. This fluid uses the lymphatic system to reenter circulation.
The lymphatic system is composed of vessels that transport this fluid (called lymph) so that it may reenter the blood stream.
There are thousands of tiny masses called lymph nodes spread along the vessels of the lymphatic system. These nodes are filled with white blood cells called lymphocytes and are an important part of the immune system.
Each of these systems is important for your health. Unfortunately, these systems can also develop serious problems.
