What is the primary function of the venous system?

The primary function of the venous system is to return deoxygenated blood to the heart. After oxygen is delivered to tissues throughout the body via arteries, the blood becomes depleted of oxygen and gains carbon dioxide and other metabolic waste products. The venous system then collects this deoxygenated blood from the capillaries and transports it back to the heart, primarily through veins. This process is essential for maintaining the body's circulation and ensuring that the blood can be reoxygenated in the lungs before it is pumped out again.

While options like carrying oxygenated blood and transporting nutrients are critical functions of the arterial system and other bodily systems, they do not represent the core function of the venous system. Similarly, the distribution of hormones, while an important process in the body, primarily involves the circulatory system as a whole rather than being specific to the venous function. Understanding the venous system's role in returning blood to the heart is fundamental in the study of vascular health and physiology.