Which type of blood vessel carries blood AWAY from the heart?

Arteries carry blood AWAY from the heart (think: A for Away, A for Artery). Veins carry blood TOWARD the heart. Capillaries are tiny vessels between arteries and veins where exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs. Arterial vs venous characteristics: (1) Arteries — thick muscular walls (withstand high pressure), elastic, carry oxygenated blood (except pulmonary arteries which carry deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs), no valves; (2) Veins — thinner walls, lower pressure, carry deoxygenated blood (except pulmonary veins carrying oxygenated blood from lungs to heart), have valves preventing backflow; (3) Capillaries — single-cell thick walls allow diffusion of gases, nutrients, waste between blood and tissues. Circulation paths: Systemic circulation — heart pumps oxygenated blood from left ventricle through aorta to body, returns deoxygenated through superior/inferior vena cava to right atrium. Pulmonary circulation — right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood through pulmonary arteries to lungs, returns oxygenated through pulmonary veins to left atrium. Heart chambers: right atrium, right ventricle (pulmonary), left atrium, left ventricle (systemic).