Which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?

**The reasoning** Think of the heart as a pumping station. Blood vessels have different jobs based on direction of flow, not what type of blood they carry (this is key!). **Arteries** = vessels that carry blood **AWAY** from the heart. Remember: **A**rteries = **A**way. The heart pumps oxygenated blood through arteries to your body, and pumps deoxygenated blood through the pulmonary artery to your lungs. **Veins** do the opposite — they return blood back TO the heart. --- **Why the wrong options tempt you** **A) Veins** — You might think "veins carry clean blood," but no! Direction matters, not oxygen content. Veins bring blood back to the heart. **C) Capillaries** — These tiny vessels connect arteries to veins. They're exchange points, not highways away from the heart. **D) Venules** — Small veins that collect blood from capillaries. Still going TOWARD the heart. --- **Quick takeaway** **Arteries = Away from heart; Veins = Towards heart.** Just remember "A for Away" and you'll never mix them up again, even if the exam tries to confuse you with "oxygenated vs deoxygenated."