What term refers to blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, usually oxygenated?

• A. Vein
• B. Capillary
• C. Ventricle
• D. Artery

Answer: (D)

Arteries are the vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They typically transport oxygen-rich blood to tissues throughout the body, which is why they’re described as usually oxygenated. Their thick, muscular walls handle the higher pressure of blood pumped from the heart and help maintain blood flow as vessels branch into smaller arteries and arterioles. An important nuance is that there are pulmonary arteries that carry blood away from the heart to the lungs, but that blood is not oxygenated yet; they still travel away from the heart, which is why the term “artery” best fits the description in this context. Veins carry blood toward the heart, capillaries are the exchange sites between arteries and veins, and ventricles are chambers of the heart, not vessels. Therefore, the best term is artery.