Which statement about blood vessels is false?

• A. Arteries carry blood away from the heart.
• B. Veins return blood to the heart.
• C. All arteries carry oxygenated blood.
• D. Capillaries connect arteries and veins.

Answer: (C)

Arteries move blood away from the heart, veins bring blood back to the heart, and capillaries form the micro-network that connects the arterial and venous systems to exchange gases and nutrients.

The statement that all arteries carry oxygenated blood is false because oxygen content depends on the circuit. In the systemic circulation, arteries typically carry oxygen-rich blood, but in the pulmonary circulation the arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. After gas exchange, oxygenated blood returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins. This exception shows that an artery is not guaranteed to carry oxygenated blood in all cases.