What type of blood vessels lead away from the heart?

Arteries are the blood vessels that lead away from the heart. Their main function is to carry oxygen-rich blood (with the exception of the pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood to the lungs) to various tissues and organs throughout the body. The structure of arteries, characterized by thick, muscular, and elastic walls, allows them to withstand the pressure of blood pumped directly from the heart.

When the heart contracts, blood is pushed into the arteries, which expand and accommodate the surge of blood. This pressure is critical for maintaining the flow of blood that supplies oxygen and nutrients to cells. In contrast, capillaries, veins, and venules have different roles in the circulatory system. Capillaries are the tiny blood vessels where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs. Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, while venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries. Understanding these functions highlights why arteries are uniquely suited to transport blood away from the heart.