Understanding Other Cardiac Physiology - AP Biology

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Question

After deoxygenated blood enters the heart at the right atrium, what path does it take?

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Answer

The circulatory system is composed of two primary regions: the systemic circuit and the pulmonary circuit.

The systemic circuit allows blood to travel from the heart to the tissues of the body, delivering nutrients and oxygen, and then returns the deoxygenated blood to the heart. Most arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins are part of the systemic circuit. The systemic circuit essentially starts with the aorta and ends with the vena cavae.

The pulmonary circuit receives dexoygenated blood from the body and carries it to the lungs for reoxygentation, before returning it to the heart to enter the systemic circuit through the aorta.

In general circulation, the vena cavae empty into the right atrium. Blood then enters the right ventricle and enters the pulmonary circuit. It travels to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries, becomes reoxygenated in the capillaries of the lungs, then returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins. From the left atrium, blood enters the left ventricle and is transferred to the systemic circuit.

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