The type of blood vessels that allow for the exchange of oxygen and nutrients are capillaries (Option c). Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, and they have thin walls that enable the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between blood and surrounding tissues. This exchange occurs at the cellular level, where oxygen and nutrients diffuse from the blood into tissues, and carbon dioxide and other wastes move from the tissues into the blood.
The blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart are veins (Option b). Veins are responsible for returning blood that has delivered its oxygen to the body tissues back to the heart. From the heart, the blood will then travel to the lungs to be re-oxygenated.
The function of the heart's valves is to prevent backflow of blood (Option c). The heart contains four main valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. These valves ensure that blood flows in one direction through the heart chambers and prevents backflow, which is crucial for efficient circulation and maintaining proper blood pressure throughout the circulatory system.
The chamber of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to the body is the left ventricle (Option d). The left ventricle receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it out through the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body, to supply all body tissues with oxygen and nutrients.