What is the structure of arteries?

The correct choice highlights that arteries have thick elastic walls with a smaller lumen compared to veins. This structure is crucial for their function, which primarily involves carrying blood away from the heart under high pressure. The thick walls are composed of smooth muscle and elastic tissue, allowing arteries to not only withstand the pressure from the heart's pumping action but also to expand and recoil. This elasticity helps maintain blood pressure throughout the cardiac cycle, ensuring a continuous flow of blood.

The smaller lumen in arteries, as opposed to veins, is essential for maintaining the necessary pressure to facilitate effective circulation. It enables efficient transportation of oxygen-rich blood to different parts of the body. This structural arrangement is a key factor that distinguishes arteries from other blood vessels, like veins which have thinner walls and larger lumens to accommodate lower pressure and the return flow of blood to the heart.