PADI Divemaster Certification Practice Exam

Which vessel is responsible for bringing blood toward the heart?

1. Arteries

2. Veins

3. Capillaries

4. Aorta

The correct answer is: Veins

Veins are the vessels that bring blood toward the heart. They are part of the circulatory system and function to carry deoxygenated blood from various parts of the body back to the heart for reoxygenation in the lungs. Veins have thinner walls compared to arteries and contain valves that help prevent the backflow of blood, ensuring it moves in one direction toward the heart. This is crucial for maintaining adequate circulation and effective functioning of the cardiovascular system. On the other hand, arteries are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart, usually oxygen-rich blood, to the tissues of the body. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances occurs between blood and tissues, but they do not carry blood toward the heart. The aorta, while it is the largest artery in the body that distributes oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body, does not function to return blood to the heart. Thus, veins are uniquely structured and functionally designed for this role in the circulatory system.