What type of blood do arteries normally carry except for pulmonary arteries?

Arteries are primarily responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to various tissues and organs throughout the body. This oxygenated blood is essential for meeting the energy needs of cells and ensuring proper function of bodily systems.

The exception to this rule is the pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for re-oxygenation. However, the question specifically notes the usual function of arteries, which aligns with the correct choice of oxygen-rich blood being carried by the majority of arteries in the body.

In contrast, deoxygenated blood is carried by veins back to the heart; mixed blood refers to blood that may have varying levels of oxygen saturation, usually found in the heart; and carbon dioxide-rich blood is also carried by veins towards the lungs. Therefore, the predominant role of arteries in transporting oxygenated blood is why the answer about oxygen-rich blood is correct.