Which vessels carry blood away from the heart?

• A. Capillaries
• B. Veins
• C. Arteries
• D. Lymphatic vessels

Answer: (C)

Blood vessels differ by the direction they move blood relative to the heart. Arteries are the vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They start from the heart with high pressure and have thick, muscular walls to propel blood through the body, including the systemic circuit and the pulmonary circuit. Capillaries are the tiny exchange networks where oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes are swapped with tissues. Veins carry blood back toward the heart and have thinner walls with valves to help prevent backflow as blood returns through the veins. Lymphatic vessels carry lymph, not blood, and are part of the immune and fluid balance systems. A handy nuance: in the pulmonary circulation, the arteries still carry blood away from the heart, even though that blood is deoxygenated as it heads to the lungs.