Mammalian cardiovascular system.

Pulmonary (lung) circuit:

  • The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs
  • via the pulmonary arteries.
  • Blood in capillaries loads O[2] and unloads CO[2].
  • Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins
  • to the left atrium and left ventricle.

    Systemic circuit:

  • Oxygenated blood leaves the heart via the aorta
  • to capillaries in the head and arms, and also
  • to capillaries in the abdominal organs and legs.
  • Oxygen-poor blood returns via superior vena cava 10. and inferior vena cava, then empty 11. into the right atrium.

    Review: