The pipes of the circulatory system are nothing without their pump. In this previous TED-Ed Lesson, Edmond Hui outlines how the heart pumps blood. Watch it and learn some more details about this essential organ in your body.

Although high blood pressure can stress the body, arteries are pretty tough. Equipped with elastic and muscle fibers embedded within their walls, they are well-suited for this heavy-duty work. This webpage illustrates the architecture of the blood vessel walls, and how the different tissue types add to vessel structure.

Why do doctors have to squeeze your arm so much to determine your blood pressure? Why do they choose to take the reading on your arm in the first place? This article goes into detail on exactly how blood pressure cuffs work.

Hypertension can be present in a variety of pathologies. In fact, hypertension is the most common medical disorder encountered during pregnancy. Learn about the different types of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy here

Why are some individuals more susceptible to high blood pressure compared to others? This article explores the possible evolutionary consequences of diet, climate, and geography on hypertension susceptibility.

In 1964, interventional radiologist Charles Dotter performed the first recorded angioplasty. His patient was an 82-year-old woman with painful leg ischemia and gangrene; before seeing Dotter, amputation of her foot was presented as her only treatment option. Through angioplasty, however, Dotter successfully dilated the woman’s stenosed superficial femoral artery, restoring circulation to her leg and preventing the need for an amputation! Amazing! Read more about how angioplasty transformed medicine here.