Which statement accurately describes the difference between arteries and veins?

Arteries are specialized blood vessels primarily responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the tissues and organs of the body. One of their defining characteristics is that they carry blood under high pressure due to the strong pumping action of the heart. This high pressure is essential for ensuring that oxygenated blood reaches even the most distant tissues.

In contrast, veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart and do so under much lower pressure. Their walls are generally thinner than those of arteries, as they do not need to withstand the high pressures associated with blood being pumped directly from the heart. Therefore, the statement that accurately describes the difference between these two types of blood vessels is that arteries carry oxygenated blood under high pressure, which is attributable to their structural adaptations and the role they play in the circulatory system.