Which vessels return blood to the heart?

Which vessels return blood to the heart?

• A. Arteries
• B. Veins
• C. Capillaries
• D. Cardiovascular system

Answer: (B)

Veins are the vessels that return blood to the heart. After blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues, it collects in the venous system and travels back toward the heart to complete the circuit. Veins operate under low pressure and often have valves that prevent backflow, with movement aided by skeletal muscle contractions and breathing. In the systemic circulation, veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, while the notable exception is the pulmonary veins, which return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Arteries, in contrast, carry blood away from the heart, and capillaries are the tiny exchange vessels between arteries and veins. The cardiovascular system refers to the entire network, not a single vessel.