Arteries are part of which type of pressure system?

• A. Low pressure system
• B. Medium pressure system
• C. High pressure system
• D. Fluctuating pressure system

Answer: (C)

Arteries are the high‑pressure conduit of the circulatory system. When the heart contracts, it ejects blood into the arteries with strong force, creating high pressures that push blood forward. The arterial walls are thick and elastic, so they recoil between heartbeats and help sustain that pressure, keeping the arterial system much higher in pressure than the venous side. In contrast, veins operate under low pressure and rely on valves and surrounding muscles to help return blood to the heart. While arterial pressure does fluctuate with each heartbeat (peaking during systole and dipping during diastole), the overall system is best described as high pressure.