arteria
/ar-TEH-ryah/
artery
In anatomy, an 'arteria' is a blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood through the body.
📝 In Action
El corazón bombea sangre a través de cada arteria.
A2The heart pumps blood through every artery.
Una dieta sana ayuda a mantener las arterias limpias.
B1A healthy diet helps keep the arteries clean.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
This word is feminine because it ends in '-a'. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Arteria vs. Vena
Mistake: "Using 'arteria' for any blood tube."
Correction: In Spanish, just like in English, an 'arteria' specifically carries blood away from the heart, while a 'vena' (vein) brings it back.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical context
When talking about health, you will often see the related word 'arterial' used as a description, like in 'presión arterial'.
The word 'arteria' also describes a major thoroughfare or main road in a city.
arteria(noun)
thoroughfare
?traffic and roads
main road
?city layout
,artery
?metaphorical use for a transport network
📝 In Action
La Avenida Insurgentes es la principal arteria de la Ciudad de México.
B1Insurgentes Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Mexico City.
Hubo un accidente en una de las arterias más importantes del centro.
B2There was an accident on one of the most important main roads downtown.
💡 Grammar Points
Metaphorical Meaning
Spanish uses 'arteria' for roads just like English does, because cars flow through a city like blood flows through a body.
⭐ Usage Tips
City Life
Use this word when you want to sound more professional than just saying 'calle' (street) or 'camino' (road).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arteria
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the most likely meaning of 'arteria' in a news report about a city traffic jam?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'arteria' only used for people?
No, it is used for animals in biology and metaphorically for roads and transit systems in a city.
What is the plural of 'arteria'?
The plural is 'arterias'. You simply add an 's' at the end.