New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

Which of the following blood vessels is responsible for transporting oxygenated blood?

1. Superior vena cava

2. Pulmonary arteries

3. Inferior vena cava

4. Pulmonary veins

The correct answer is: Pulmonary veins

The pulmonary veins are responsible for transporting oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. After oxygenation occurs in the lungs, the oxygen-rich blood is collected by the pulmonary veins, which then deliver it to the left atrium of the heart. This is a crucial step in the circulatory process, as the heart then sends this oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body to supply organs and tissues with the necessary oxygen for cellular function. In contrast, the other options mentioned play different roles in the circulatory system. The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are major veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. The pulmonary arteries are responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen. Therefore, the only blood vessels that transport oxygenated blood are the pulmonary veins.