Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs?

• A. Aorta
• B. Pulmonary artery
• C. Pulmonary vein
• D. Superior vena cava

Answer: (B)

In the lungs, the distinction lies in the path of blood through the pulmonary circulation. The heart’s right side pushes deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery, which takes it away from the heart toward the lungs for oxygen uptake. After lungs oxygenate the blood, it returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins into the left atrium, then moves on to the body via the aorta. So the vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs is the pulmonary artery. The other vessels have different roles: the aorta sends oxygen-rich blood to the body, the pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart, and the superior vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart.