Which component of the circulatory system is responsible for nutrient exchange at the cellular level?

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the circulatory system and play a critical role in nutrient exchange at the cellular level. Their thin walls, consisting of a single layer of endothelial cells, allow for easy diffusion of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues. This close proximity to cells enables the capillaries to facilitate the transport of essential substances directly to the cells that need them while also allowing for the removal of metabolic waste.

Arteries are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the tissues, but they do not engage directly in nutrient exchange. Veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart, which also limits their function in nutrient delivery. Venules, although involved in collecting blood from capillaries to form veins, do not participate directly in the exchange process themselves. Therefore, capillaries are the key players in this essential function of the circulatory system.