ABSTRACT
The arteries are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to all the cells and tissues throughout the body. The arteries have four parts: lumen, endothelium, muscle, and adventitia. The lumen is the inside of the artery which would be similar to the inside of a water hose. The endothelium is one of the most important parts of the artery and protects us from hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The endothelium lies in a very key area and determines what can happen in the blood and in the artery muscle. The endothelium acts like an endocrine organ that makes a lot of compounds that regulate the blood pressure and overall arterial health. One of these compounds is nitric oxide that helps to dilate the artery and lower the blood pressure. The adventitia is the outermost layer of the artery that surrounds the muscle. Endothelial dysfunction and artery and heart abnormalities may precede the development of hypertension by decades.
