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

Which structure returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart?

1. Ascending aorta

2. Pulmonary valve

3. Inferior vena cava

4. Right atrium

The correct answer is: Inferior vena cava

The structure that returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart is the inferior vena cava. This large vein collects blood from the lower extremities and abdominal organs and directs it toward the right atrium of the heart. The inferior vena cava plays a crucial role in the circulatory system by ensuring that blood that has circulated through the body and delivered oxygen to tissues is returned to the heart to be re-oxygenated in the lungs. The ascending aorta is responsible for transporting oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, not for returning deoxygenated blood. The pulmonary valve serves as a gateway for blood leaving the right ventricle to the lungs, playing no role in returning blood to the heart. The right atrium is the chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood from both the inferior and superior vena cava, but it does not itself return blood from the lower body. Thus, the inferior vena cava is specifically designed for the task outlined in the question.