What are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart known as?

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart are known as arteries. This is crucial to the circulatory system, as arteries are responsible for transporting oxygenated blood (with the exception of the pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs) from the heart to various tissues and organs throughout the body.

The structure of arteries supports their function; they have thick, muscular walls that can withstand and regulate the high pressure of blood ejected from the heart. This allows for the efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells. Understanding the function and characteristics of arteries is fundamental in comprehending how the circulatory system operates as a whole.