Which blood vessels carry blood toward the heart?

• A. Veins
• B. Capillaries
• C. Arteries
• D. Arterioles

Answer: (A)

Blood returns to the heart through vessels that carry it back toward the heart, which are veins. In contrast, arteries move blood away from the heart to the tissues, capillaries are the tiny exchange vessels that connect arteries and veins, and arterioles are small arteries that carry blood away from the heart into the capillary beds. So when the question asks which vessels carry blood toward the heart, veins are the best answer. They often contain valves to prevent backflow and rely on body movements to help push blood back to the heart, especially from the lower extremities.