Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

Veins are distinguished from arteries primarily by the pressure of the blood they carry. Veins operate under lower pressure than arteries due to their role in returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart. The lower pressure in veins can be attributed to the distance the blood travels and the fact that they are further away from the pumping action of the heart, which creates the higher pressures found in arteries.

In addition, veins have thinner walls compared to arteries, which are muscular and elastic to handle the high pressure of blood being pumped from the heart. The composition of veins is also different; they contain valves that prevent backflow of blood, which is crucial for venous return, especially from the lower extremities.

The other characteristics provided in the question do not accurately apply to veins when compared to arteries. Therefore, recognizing that veins operate under low pressure is indeed the defining characteristic that distinguishes them from arteries.