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

Which blood vessel is known for providing oxygenated blood?

1. Pulmonary vein

2. The aorta

3. Vena cava

4. Coronary artery

The correct answer is: The aorta

The aorta is the primary artery in the body responsible for distributing oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body. After oxygen-rich blood is pumped from the heart, it travels through the aorta and branches into smaller arteries, ultimately supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. This function is crucial for maintaining cellular metabolism and overall bodily function. While both the pulmonary vein and coronary artery also carry oxygenated blood, their contexts are different. The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart, and the coronary artery supplies oxygenated blood specifically to the heart muscle itself. The vena cava, on the contrary, is the major vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. This differentiation clarifies why the aorta is the most recognized vessel for supplying oxygenated blood throughout the systemic circulation.