Final answer:
a) Arteries; veins. Arteries bring oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to skeletal muscles, while veins drain waste-ridden blood away from them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arteries bring oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to skeletal muscles, while veins drain waste-ridden blood away from them.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They have thick walls and carry oxygen-rich blood. Veins, on the other hand, are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. They generally carry deoxygenated blood and have valves to prevent backflow.
For example, the aorta is the largest artery that receives blood directly from the heart, while the inferior vena cava is the largest vein.