Blood Flow, Pulmonary/Systemic Circuits, and Ventricles

Full blood flow through the heart

Body → vena cavae → right atrium → tricuspid valve → right ventricle → pulmonary semilunar valve → pulmonary trunk → pulmonary arteries → lungs → pulmonary veins → left atrium → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic semilunar valve → aorta → body.

Blood flow from body to right atrium

Superior/inferior vena cava → right atrium.

Blood flow from right atrium to right ventricle

Right atrium → tricuspid valve → right ventricle.

Blood flow from right ventricle to lungs

Right ventricle → pulmonary semilunar valve → pulmonary trunk → pulmonary arteries → lungs.

Blood flow from lungs to left atrium

Lungs → pulmonary veins → left atrium.

Blood flow from left atrium to left ventricle

Left atrium → mitral/bicuspid valve → left ventricle.

Blood flow from left ventricle to body

Left ventricle → aortic semilunar valve → aorta → systemic arteries → body.

Which side of the heart handles deoxygenated blood?

Right side.

Which side of the heart handles oxygenated blood?

Left side.

Which chamber receives deoxygenated blood from the body?

Right atrium.

Which chamber pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs?

Right ventricle.

Which chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?

Left atrium.

Which chamber pumps oxygenated blood to the body?

Left ventricle.

Do arteries always carry oxygenated blood?

No. Arteries carry blood away from the heart.

Do veins always carry deoxygenated blood?

No. Veins carry blood toward the heart.

Which arteries carry deoxygenated blood?

Pulmonary arteries.

Which veins carry oxygenated blood?

Pulmonary veins.

What is the pulmonary circuit pathway?

Right ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary trunk → pulmonary arteries → lungs → pulmonary veins → left atrium.

What is the systemic circuit pathway?

Left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta → systemic arteries → capillaries → systemic veins → vena cavae → right atrium.

Where does gas exchange occur?

Capillaries.

What happens in pulmonary capillaries?

Carbon dioxide leaves blood and oxygen enters blood.

What happens in systemic capillaries?

Oxygen/nutrients leave blood and carbon dioxide/wastes enter blood.

How are the right and left ventricles similar?

Both pump blood out of the heart, contain trabeculae carneae, have papillary muscles, and send blood through semilunar valves.

How are the right and left ventricles different?

The right ventricle pumps to the lungs at lower pressure; the left ventricle pumps to the body at higher pressure.

Why is the left ventricle thicker than the right ventricle?

The left ventricle must overcome higher systemic resistance and generate greater pressure.

Which ventricle has a thicker wall?

Left ventricle.

Which ventricle pumps into the pulmonary trunk?

Right ventricle.

Which ventricle pumps into the aorta?

Left ventricle.

Which circuit is short and low-pressure?

Pulmonary circuit.

Which circuit is long and high-pressure?

Systemic circuit.

Why is pulmonary pressure lower than systemic pressure?

The lungs are close to the heart and delicate, so less force is needed.