NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

Which vessel carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?

1. Pulmonary Artery

2. Pulmonary Veins

3. Aorta

4. Vena Cava

The correct answer is: Pulmonary Veins

The pulmonary veins are the vessels responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. After gas exchange in the alveoli of the lungs, oxygen enters the blood, and this oxygen-rich blood is then collected by the pulmonary veins. There are typically four pulmonary veins, two from each lung, that transport the oxygenated blood to the left atrium of the heart. This process is crucial as it allows the heart to receive oxygen-rich blood and subsequently pump it to the rest of the body for use in cellular processes. In contrast, the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. The aorta is the main artery that distributes oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the body's tissues. The vena cava serves as the major vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. Understanding these distinctions is key in recognizing the flow of blood and the roles of different vessels in the circulatory system.