Which vessels return blood to the heart?

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

Answer: (A)

Veins are the vessels that bring blood back to the heart. They carry blood from the tissues toward the heart, usually at low pressure and with valves in many veins to prevent backflow. This contrasts with arteries, which carry blood away from the heart under higher pressure with thick, muscular walls. Capillaries are the tiny exchange vessels between arteries and veins, and arterioles are the small arteries that lead blood toward the capillary beds. An important nuance is that most systemic veins carry deoxygenated blood, while the pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.