Which blood vessel carries blood away from the heart to the body?

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

Answer: (C)

Arteries carry blood away from the heart, delivering it to the body's tissues in the systemic circuit. They have thick, muscular walls to handle the high pressure generated by the heart’s pumping. Veins, in contrast, return blood toward the heart and often have valves to prevent backflow. Capillaries are tiny vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs, and venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries. Note that the pulmonary artery also carries blood away from the heart, but it goes to the lungs rather than the body; for the body’s circulation, the systemic arteries are the vessels that fit.