What is the function of systemic arteries in the circulatory system?

Systemic arteries play a crucial role in the circulatory system by transporting oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to various tissues and organs throughout the body. This function is essential for maintaining cellular respiration and providing the necessary oxygen for the metabolic processes that sustain life. The oxygenated blood delivered by systemic arteries is vital for energy production in the body’s cells.

While the other options mention important processes in the cardiovascular and digestive systems, they do not accurately reflect the primary function of systemic arteries. For example, returning carbon dioxide to the heart is primarily the role of systemic veins, which carry deoxygenated blood back. Nutrient absorption occurs in the digestive system and involves the intestines, not the function of systemic arteries. Distributing hormones is a function associated more closely with the endocrine system and the bloodstream, but it is not the primary purpose of systemic arteries, which focus on the oxygen delivery system post-heart.