How is deoxygenated blood primarily transported back to the heart?

Deoxygenated blood is primarily transported back to the heart through the superior and inferior vena cava. These two large veins collect blood that has delivered its oxygen to the body tissues and is returning to the heart for reoxygenation. The superior vena cava drains blood from the upper body, including the head, neck, arms, and upper chest, while the inferior vena cava collects blood from the lower body, including the abdomen and legs.

Once this deoxygenated blood enters the heart through the vena cava, it flows into the right atrium, from where it is subsequently directed into the right ventricle and then pumped to the lungs for oxygenation. This process is a crucial aspect of the circulatory system, ensuring that blood is reoxygenated and that carbon dioxide is expelled from the body.

The other choices involve different functions within the circulatory system. For example, the coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself and do not carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Pulmonary veins, on the other hand, are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart. Lastly, jugular veins primarily drain blood from the head and neck, directing it towards the superior vena cava but are not the main pathways