Which vessel carries blood away from the heart?

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

Answer: (A)

Blood moves away from the heart through arteries. These vessels have thick, muscular walls to handle the high pressure generated by each heartbeat and are designed to carry blood outward to the tissues of the body. The main artery leaving the heart is the aorta, which distributes blood to smaller arteries and eventually to capillaries where exchange occurs. An important nuance is the pulmonary artery, which also carries blood away from the heart—this one sends blood to the lungs and carries it to be oxygenated, even though it’s deoxygenated. Veins return blood to the heart, usually under lower pressure and with valves to prevent backflow. Capillaries are tiny vessels that connect arteries and veins and are the sites of nutrient and gas exchange. Nerves are not involved in blood transport. So, the vessel that carries blood away from the heart is an artery.