Which vessel returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?

• A. Aorta
• B. Pulmonary Artery
• C. Vena Cava
• D. Pulmonary Vein

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that the lungs re-oxygenate blood, and the vessels that return that oxygenated blood to the heart are the pulmonary veins. After blood gets oxygen from the lungs, it travels through the pulmonary veins and drains into the left atrium, ready to be pumped out to the body. In contrast, the pulmonary artery carries blood from the heart to the lungs and is typically deoxygenated, while the aorta distributes oxygen-rich blood to the body and the vena cavae bring deoxygenated blood from the body back to the right heart. So the vessel that returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart is the pulmonary vein.