What is the name of the blood vessel that carries oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs?

The blood vessel that carries oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs is known as the pulmonary artery. This vessel plays a crucial role in the cardiovascular system by facilitating the essential process of pulmonary circulation.

As blood circulates through the body, it delivers oxygen to tissues and collects carbon dioxide and other waste products, becoming deoxygenated. The pulmonary artery specifically transports this deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen, a vital process for maintaining the body’s oxygen levels.

This function is distinct from that of the aorta, which carries oxygen-rich blood away from the left ventricle to supply the rest of the body, and from coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle itself. Additionally, veins generally carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, but not specifically to the lungs as the pulmonary artery does. This makes the pulmonary artery essential for ensuring that blood is re-oxygenated before it returns to systemic circulation.