What is the correct path of blood flow from the body to the heart?

The correct path of blood flow from the body to the heart begins when deoxygenated blood returns from the systemic circulation. This blood enters the heart through the superior and inferior vena cavae, which direct it into the right atrium. From the right atrium, blood flows into the right ventricle, which then pumps it to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. At the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in a process called gas exchange.

Once the blood becomes oxygenated in the lungs, it travels back to the heart through the pulmonary veins, entering the left atrium. The left atrium then pushes the oxygen-rich blood into the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping that nutrient-dense blood out to the rest of the body through the aorta.

This path accurately captures the journey of deoxygenated blood returning to the heart and the subsequent flow of oxygenated blood out into the systemic circulation. Understanding this sequence is crucial for comprehending how the cardiovascular system functions effectively to maintain oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal.