Everyone Has These

Blown glass by Gary Farlow.
Farlo's Scientific Glassblowing

Everyone has blood vessels. Blood vessels are networks of hollow tubes that transport blood throughout the entire body. There are three major types, all part of the circulatory system:

1. Arteries, which carry blood away from the heart.
2. Capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between blood and tissues.
3. Veins, which carry blood from the capillaries back toward the heart

Now that you know the basics consider this: There are artists who use images of blood vessels and other physiological parts of the human body to make beautiful art.

Sometimes their work is used to teach medical students or to illustrate books but often it is for the sheer graphic beauty of our bodies. According to the Association of Medical Illustrators, medical illustration as a teaching tool first appeared in 4th Century in Hellenic Alexandria. Probably the most famous medical illustrator was Leonardo da Vinci.

A drawing of the heart and it's blood
vessels by Leonardo da Vinci.

To see artwork inspired by science go to Cleveland clinic.org/eXpressions Gallery06/GilmourAcademy. Another site is LIvescience.com. Look for Gallery: the Art in Biomedical Research.

---Lynn Conaway