Types of arteries and veins. There are two types of arteries in the body: Pulmonary and systemic. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart, to the lungs, for purification while the systemic arteries form a network of arteries that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
Eating food within 9 to 12 hours before the test will not affect the HDL or total cholesterol test results, but it may affect the test results for triglycerides and LDL. If you need to take medicines, you may take them with a small amount of water on the morning of your test.
The blood sugar test requires that you don't eat because eating prior to the test will raise your blood sugar. If you have a large carbohydrate meal prior to the test your sugar will be high. This is normal. However, having a high blood sugar when you haven't eaten isn't normal.