Florida Basic Recruit Training Program High Liability (First Aid) Practice Exam

What are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart called?

1. Capillaries

2. Arteries

3. Veins

4. Blood vessels

The correct answer is: Veins

The vessels that carry blood back to the heart are specifically known as veins. Veins are a critical component of the circulatory system, responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart for re-oxygenation. Unlike arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, veins have thinner walls and often contain valves to prevent backflow, ensuring that blood moves in the right direction toward the heart. Capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels, play a role in the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances between the blood and tissues but do not function to return blood to the heart. Arteries, on the other hand, are the vessels that transport blood away from the heart, primarily carrying oxygenated blood. The term "blood vessels" encompasses both arteries and veins, but it does not specifically identify the vessels responsible for returning blood to the heart. Thus, veins are the correct answer to this question.