Which type of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?

Arteries are the type of blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They play a crucial role in the circulatory system by transporting oxygen-rich blood under high pressure to various tissues and organs throughout the body. The structure of arteries, characterized by thick, elastic walls, enables them to withstand the pressure generated by the heart's contractions as it pumps blood. This elasticity also allows arteries to regulate blood flow and maintain blood pressure effectively.

In contrast, veins carry blood back to the heart, often containing deoxygenated blood, except for the pulmonary veins which transport oxygenated blood from the lungs. Capillaries, on the other hand, are the smallest blood vessels where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues. Venules are small vessels that collect blood from capillaries and transport it to veins. Understanding the specific functions and directions of blood flow in these different vessels is essential in the study of cardiovascular physiology.