Final answer:
The statement involving veins in the systemic circulation is that the pulmonary veins are exceptional as they carry oxygenated blood, contrary to the typical function of veins, which is to carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the exceptions in the naming of veins within systemic circulation. In systemic circulation, veins typically carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Most of the veins, including the hepatic veins, renal veins, and coronary veins, follow this rule. However, there is an important exception to this naming convention:
- The pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart, which is unusual for veins as they generally transport deoxygenated blood.
Other examples for reference:
- Blood in the inferior vena cava is indeed deoxygenated as it is returning blood to the heart from the body below the diaphragm.
- Blood in the pulmonary artery is deoxygenated because it is heading towards the lungs for oxygenation.
- Blood in the aorta is oxygenated as it has just left the left side of the heart and is being distributed to the body.