What is the general name for a blood vessel that transports blood to the heart and contains valves?

The vessel that transports blood toward the heart and contains valves is known as a vein. Veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from various parts of the body back to the heart, with the exception of the pulmonary veins, which carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

The presence of valves in veins is critical as these structures help prevent the backflow of blood, ensuring it moves in a one-way direction towards the heart, particularly in the extremities where blood must travel against the force of gravity. This anatomical feature distinguishes veins from other types of blood vessels, such as arteries, which do not contain valves and are tasked with carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart.

Capillaries, on the other hand, are the smallest blood vessels where gas exchange occurs, while the aorta serves as the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the body. Thus, veins are specifically designed to fulfill the role of returning blood to the heart, substantiating their classification in this context.