Arteries carry blood:

**The reasoning** Think of arteries as "exit roads" from the heart. The defining feature of an artery isn't what it carries (oxygen or not) — it's the **direction of blood flow**. Arteries always carry blood **away from the heart** to all parts of your body. Here's the principle: **Blood vessels are classified by direction, not content.** - Arteries = Away from heart - Veins = Toward the heart The heart pumps → arteries distribute → capillaries exchange nutrients → veins collect and return. It's a one-way highway system. **Why the wrong options tempt you** **A) To the heart** — This describes veins, not arteries. Easy to mix up if you only memorize without understanding direction. **C) Only oxygen** — Tricky! *Most* arteries carry oxygenated blood, BUT the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs. So "oxygen" isn't what defines an artery. **D) Only to lungs** — That's just the pulmonary artery specifically, not all arteries. **Quick takeaway** **"Arteries = Away"** — both start with 'A'. Direction defines the vessel, not the cargo it carries.