Final answer:
It is true that not all arteries carry oxygenated blood; the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs, which is an exception to the general rule that arteries carry oxygenated blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. Not all arteries carry oxygenated blood; specifically, the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
The statement regarding arteries stems from the common misconception that all arteries carry oxygenated blood. However, this is not the case with the pulmonary artery, which defies the typical pattern. Most arteries do carry oxygenated blood throughout the body from the heart, distributing it to various tissues and organs. This includes the aorta, the body's largest artery. However, the unique function of the pulmonary artery is to transport deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. Here the blood undergoes gas exchange, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, before returning to the heart via the pulmonary veins. Conversely, the pulmonary veins are the exception among veins as they carry oxygenated blood back to the heart, specifically to the left atrium.