Vascular system. Historical illustration of the major body arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels. The veins and arteries are coloured blue and red respectively, to show that they carry deoxygenated and oxygenated blood respectively. The aorta (the major artery of the body) is seen descending down the middle of the body. The major chest veins that channel blood from the visible veins to the heart have been removed along with the heart and other internal organs. Lymphatic vessels (grey) recirculate lymph (interstitial tissue fluid) to avoid fluid and protein loss. Colour lithograph by Fairland from The Vessels of the Human Body, 1837. Based on drawings by J. Swandale.