Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

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What type of blood is transported by the inferior vena cava?

  1. Oxygenated blood

  2. Deoxygenated blood

  3. Nutrient-rich blood

  4. Carbonated blood

The correct answer is: Deoxygenated blood

The inferior vena cava transports deoxygenated blood. This large vein collects blood from the lower half of the body, including the legs, pelvis, and abdomen, and returns it to the right atrium of the heart. The blood in the inferior vena cava has delivered its oxygen to the body's tissues and has received carbon dioxide and other waste products, which is why it is considered deoxygenated. Deoxygenated blood is characterized by lower levels of oxygen and higher levels of carbon dioxide, as it has already fulfilled its purpose of oxygen delivery. Thus, the blood returning via the inferior vena cava is prepared to be re-oxygenated in the lungs once it enters the right side of the heart and is pumped to the lungs for gas exchange. In contrast, the other types of blood mentioned are not transported by the inferior vena cava: oxygenated blood is carried by the pulmonary veins to the left atrium from the lungs, nutrient-rich blood would typically be found in the hepatic portal circulation before it reaches the systemic circulation, and carbonated blood is not a recognized term in human physiology.