Which blood vessels carry oxygen-rich blood?

The correct answer identifies arteries as the blood vessels that primarily carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the various tissues and organs of the body. In most cases, the systemic circulation system is responsible for this process, where oxygenated blood leaves the left side of the heart and travels through a network of arteries, including the aorta, and further branches out to deliver oxygen to the cells.

In contrast, veins typically carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the tissues, where carbon dioxide and other waste products are picked up. Capillaries, while crucial in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and tissues, themselves do not transport blood in the same sense as arteries or veins; they are the sites where the oxygen is delivered and carbon dioxide is collected. Venules are small blood vessels that collect deoxygenated blood from capillaries and transport it to veins. Therefore, arteries are specifically designed and function to carry blood rich in oxygen, ensuring that body tissues receive the necessary oxygen required for metabolism.