Artery
 
Arteries are the blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body (as opposed to veins, which carry blood from the body back to the heart). Cells throughout the body need the oxygen and nutrients in blood in order to function properly. If an artery is blocked or ruptured, the flow of blood is disrupted, and cells which depend on that artery for their supply of blood may starve and die.

by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain - Artwork copyright © 2000 Ann L. Myers