Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

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

1. Pulmonary vein

2. Aorta

3. Pulmonary artery

4. Coronary artery

The correct answer is: Pulmonary artery

The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs is indeed the pulmonary artery. In the circulatory system, deoxygenated blood is collected from the body and enters the right atrium of the heart. From there, it moves into the right ventricle, which pumps it into the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery then transports this deoxygenated blood to the lungs, where it undergoes gas exchange, picking up oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. This is a fundamental aspect of the pulmonary circulation, which is distinct from the systemic circulation where oxygenated blood is carried from the heart to the rest of the body. The pulmonary artery is unique in that it is one of the few arteries that carry deoxygenated blood, contrasting with other arteries in the body that typically transport oxygen-rich blood. In contrast, the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood back from the lungs to the heart, the aorta distributes oxygenated blood from the heart to the systemic circulation, and the coronary artery supplies blood to the heart muscle itself, again predominantly providing oxygenated blood. Thus, the role of the pulmonary artery is crucial in enabling the exchange of gases essential for maintaining pulmonary function.