Arteries, capillaries, and veins are three types of blood vessels in the human body, and each plays unique functions.
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body's tissues and organs, providing them with oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
Capillaries are tiny, microscopic blood vessels that connect arteries and veins. Capillaries are the site of exchange between the blood and the surrounding tissues, allowing oxygen, nutrients, and other substances to move from the blood into the cells and waste products like carbon dioxide to move out of the cells and into the blood.
Veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart. After the oxygen and nutrients from the blood have been delivered to the cells and tissues, the deoxygenated blood is collected by veins and returned to the heart to be re-oxygenated. Veins also help regulate blood pressure, help transport waste products away from tissues, and serve as a reservoir for excess blood in the body.