What type of blood vessel carries oxygen and nutrients from the heart to surrounding tissues?

The type of blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients from the heart to surrounding tissues is the artery. Arteries are structured to handle the high pressure of blood being pumped directly from the heart. They have thick, muscular walls that provide the strength needed to transport blood efficiently throughout the body.

After leaving the heart, oxygen-rich blood travels through the arteries, which branch out into smaller arterioles and eventually into capillaries. These smaller vessels are where the actual exchange of oxygen and nutrients occurs with the body's tissues. The function of arteries is crucial in the circulatory system as they are responsible for the distribution of vital resources needed for cellular metabolism and overall bodily function.

While veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart and capillaries facilitate the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products, it is the arteries that are specifically tasked with delivering oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the tissues. The term 'cortex' is unrelated, as it generally refers to the outer layer of an organ or structure in the body, rather than a type of blood vessel.