the vessel carrying oxygenated blood to the tissues is

Analyze the question The question asks for the vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the body tissues. Pay attention to the word "vessel" and to which option fits best.

Explain the concept

• Arteries carry blood away from the heart. Most carry oxygenated blood, but the pulmonary artery is an exception because it carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• Veins carry blood towards the heart. Most carry deoxygenated blood, but the pulmonary vein is an exception because it carries oxygenated blood from the lungs.
• The aorta is the main artery. It leaves the left ventricle and distributes oxygenated blood to the whole body.

Step-by-step solution

1. Oxygenated blood from the lungs returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary vein.
2. It passes into the left ventricle.
3. The left ventricle pumps it into the aorta, which branches into smaller arteries that supply the tissues.

Checking the options:

• A. Arteries: this is a general term. It is partly true, but it is not fully correct because the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood.
• B. Ventricles: these are heart chambers, not vessels.
• C. Aorta: this is a vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the tissues. Correct.
• D. Lung: this is an organ, not a vessel.

Answer: C. Aorta

Exam tip Remember "Arteries go Away from the heart", but watch out for the pulmonary artery exception. When an option is a specific vessel, such as the aorta, and another is a general term, such as arteries, check whether the general term has exceptions. If it does, the specific vessel is usually the safer choice.