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

Which part of the circulatory system is responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood?

1. Veins

2. Arteries

3. Capillaries

4. Venules

The correct answer is: Arteries

The part of the circulatory system responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood is arteries. Arteries are muscular blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart. Specifically, the pulmonary arteries are unique in that they carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs, but the aorta and systemic arteries are responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood from the heart to various tissues and organs throughout the body. Oxygen-rich blood is essential for sustaining bodily functions, as oxygen is required for cellular respiration. This process generates energy for cells, enabling them to perform their necessary tasks. Thus, arteries play a crucial role in ensuring that the body's organs receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function effectively. In contrast, veins are responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood back to the heart, capillaries are the tiny blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products at the tissue level, and venules collect blood from capillaries to carry it back to veins. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the essential role that arteries play in the circulatory system.