Healthy Arteries

Arteries of the Body

Arteries and your circulatory system

Arteries carry blood away from the heart in two distinct pathways:

• The systemic circuit. In this pathway, oxygen-rich blood is carried away from the heart and toward tissues of the body.
• The pulmonary circuit. In the pulmonary circuit, oxygen-depleted blood is carried away from the heart and into the lungs where it can acquire fresh oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.