NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which type of blood vessel is responsible for carrying blood to the heart?

1. Arteries

2. Veins

3. Capillaries

4. Aorta

The correct answer is: Veins

Veins are the blood vessels responsible for carrying blood back to the heart. This process involves deoxygenated blood returning from various parts of the body, where oxygen has been delivered to the tissues. The walls of veins are thinner than those of arteries, and they contain valves that help prevent the backflow of blood, ensuring it moves effectively in one direction toward the heart. In contrast, arteries are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart, typically carrying oxygenated blood to the tissues, except for pulmonary arteries, which transport deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Capillaries, on the other hand, are the smallest blood vessels and are the sites where the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues. The aorta is the body's main artery, carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body, not returning blood to it. Understanding these roles is crucial for comprehending the circulatory system’s function.