Trace the path of blood starting in a pulmonary vein, through the heart, and around the body, returning to the pulmonary vein. Name, in order, the heart chambers and types of vessels through which the blood passes.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by identifying that the blood enters the heart from the pulmonary vein into the left atrium. This is oxygen-rich blood returning from the lungs.
2. Next, the blood moves from the left atrium through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. This valve prevents the backflow of blood.
3. Once the blood is in the left ventricle, it is pumped through the aortic valve into the aorta, the largest artery in the body, during ventricular systole (contraction of the ventricle).
4. The blood then travels through the systemic circulation, moving through various arteries, arterioles, and capillaries, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and picking up carbon dioxide and other waste products.
5. Finally, the deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, entering the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava, passes through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle, and is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to reach the lungs for oxygenation. The cycle completes as the blood re-enters the pulmonary veins.

Key Concepts

Circulatory System

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood, nutrients, gases, and waste products throughout the body. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. Understanding this system is crucial for tracing the path of blood, as it highlights how oxygenated and deoxygenated blood circulates between the lungs and the rest of the body.

Heart Chambers

The heart has four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. Blood flows from the pulmonary veins into the left atrium, then to the left ventricle, which pumps it into the aorta. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, sending it to the right ventricle, which then pumps it to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries for oxygenation.

Blood Vessels

Blood vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries, each serving distinct functions in circulation. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, while veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries facilitate the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues, making them essential for understanding the complete circuit of blood flow.