All of the parts of your body, such as the skin, muscles, and organs, are made up of billions of cells. Every cell must have a constant supply of blood to live. Blood carries vital substances like glucose (sugar), minerals, and oxygen to the cells. And it carries away the waste products. Without blood, cells would quickly die.

Blood vessels are the pipelines that carry blood throughout your body. Major organs such as the heart, lungs, and liver are supplied by large blood vessels (arteries and veins) that run directly to and from those organs. Smaller blood vessels branch out from the larger ones. The smallest branches, called capillaries, supply individual cells.

Normal cells are supplied with blood by vessels that grow as your body develops. As organs grow larger, the blood vessels that supply them grow too, allowing them to carry more blood to the cells making up those organs.

Last Medical Review: 03/10/2009
Last Revised: 03/10/2009

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