Final answer:
Oxygenated blood is distributed to the body through the aorta, not the pulmonary veins, which carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Movement of Blood Through the Heart
When describing the movement of blood through the heart, it is essential to clarify that oxygenated blood leaves the heart through the aorta, not the pulmonary veins as suggested in the question. The pulmonary veins are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. Thereafter, this oxygenated blood is transferred to the left ventricle, which pumps it through the aorta and into the systemic circulation to supply the body's tissues.
The right side of the heart acts in contrast, as it receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cava, then pumps it into the right ventricle, and from there into the pulmonary arteries leading to the lungs. This is the start of the pulmonary circuit, where gas exchange occurs: blood releases carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen in the lungs.
The statement from the question, "Oxygenated blood leaves the heart through the pulmonary veins", is incorrect. Instead, it is through the aorta that oxygenated blood is distributed to the rest of the body.