What type of blood vessel returns deoxygenated blood to the heart?

Veins are the type of blood vessels responsible for returning deoxygenated blood to the heart. In the circulatory system, after oxygen has been delivered to body tissues, the blood becomes deoxygenated. This deoxygenated blood then collects in the venous system.

Venous blood is transported through progressively larger veins until it reaches the heart. The larger veins, such as the superior and inferior vena cavae, deliver deoxygenated blood directly into the right atrium of the heart. This process is crucial for maintaining the circulatory system and ensuring that blood can be re-oxygenated in the lungs.

Arteries, on the other hand, typically carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, while capillaries are involved in the exchange of gases and nutrients between blood and tissues. Aneurysms refer to a localized dilation of a blood vessel and are not a type of blood vessel themselves.

Understanding the function of veins in this context helps reinforce their role in circulation and the overall mechanics of the cardiovascular system.