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

What type of blood vessel contains valves?

1. Arteries

2. Capillaries

3. Veins

4. Aorta

The correct answer is: Veins

Veins are the type of blood vessel that contains valves. These valves are critical in assisting the return of blood to the heart, especially from the lower parts of the body, where blood must travel against gravity. The presence of valves in veins prevents the backflow of blood, ensuring it moves efficiently toward the heart. This mechanism is particularly important in the limbs where muscle contractions during physical activity help propel blood upward, and the valves work to keep it moving in one direction. Arteries do not have valves as they transport oxygenated blood away from the heart at a high pressure. Capillaries, being the smallest blood vessels, facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste products between blood and tissues and do not need valves due to their structure and function. The aorta, which is the largest artery in the body, also does not contain valves. Instead, it directs blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body and relies on the high pressure generated by the heart's contractions. Thus, the presence of valves is a distinctive feature of veins, crucial for their function in the circulatory system.