Which type of vessel carries blood back to the heart?

Veins are the type of blood vessels responsible for carrying blood back to the heart. Unlike arteries, which transport oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body (with the exception of the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs), veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body's tissues back to the heart.

Veins have thinner walls than arteries and often contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood, ensuring that it continues in the correct direction toward the heart. This is particularly important in the extremities, where blood must be pushed back against gravity.

Additionally, while capillaries facilitate the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances between the blood and tissues, they do not carry blood directly back to the heart. Venules serve as small vessels that collect blood from capillaries and converge into veins, but they are still not the primary vessels responsible for the overall return of blood to the heart. Thus, veins are the primary vessels tasked with this specific function in the circulatory system.