Which vessels carry blood away from the heart to tissues?

Which vessels carry blood away from the heart to tissues?

• A. Arteries
• B. Veins
• C. Capillaries
• D. Venules

Answer: (A)

Blood travels away from the heart to tissues through the arteries. These vessels have thick, muscular walls and elastic tissue to withstand the high pressure generated by the heart’s pumping and to deliver blood efficiently into the systemic and pulmonary circuits. As arteries travel away from the heart, they branch into smaller arteries and arterioles until they reach the capillaries, where gas and nutrient exchange with tissues occurs. Veins, in contrast, return blood to the heart; capillaries are the tiny exchange vessels between arteries and veins; and venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries and feed it into larger veins.

Blood travels away from the heart to tissues through the arteries. These vessels have thick, muscular walls and elastic tissue to withstand the high pressure generated by the heart’s pumping and to deliver blood efficiently into the systemic and pulmonary circuits. As arteries travel away from the heart, they branch into smaller arteries and arterioles until they reach the capillaries, where gas and nutrient exchange with tissues occurs. Veins, in contrast, return blood to the heart; capillaries are the tiny exchange vessels between arteries and veins; and venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries and feed it into larger veins.