Which of the following features of veins results in the venous system operating at lower pressures than the arterial side?

Question

Which of the following features of veins results in the venous system operating at lower pressures than the arterial side?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Veins and arteries both carry blood, however, blood that leaves the heart through the arterial system is moving through the circulatory system at higher pressures.
This is because the heart develops significant force and pushes blood through the vessel and also because the arteries have thicker, more muscular walls. 
On the venous side, blood is entering from tissues at much lower pressure because the "pump" activity is not as strong as it is coming from the heart. Additionally, the vessel walls of veins are thinner and more compliant, meaning they stretch more easily, allowing more blood to flow through the venous side but under lower pressure.
While veins do contain valves, this is not directly related to the lower pressures seen in the venous side. The valves play a role in preventing back-flow of blood.
Venous blood is oxygen-deficient, but this is not directly related to pressure within the vessels.

Which of the Following Features of Veins Results in the Venous