What type of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?

Arteries are the type of blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They are characterized by their thick, muscular walls, which allow them to withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped directly from the heart. The primary function of arteries is to transport oxygenated blood to various parts of the body, with the exception of the pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.

Each of these other options has a distinct role in the circulatory system but does not carry blood away from the heart. Veins, for instance, are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart, while capillaries are tiny vessels where the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues. Venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries and channel it into larger veins, also heading back towards the heart. Understanding the specific functions of these blood vessels is crucial for comprehending human anatomy and physiology.