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Two Circulations in the Body | Circulatory system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy

khanacademymedicine・11 minutes read

The heart functions as a mechanical system with chambers, pumps, and circuits for pulmonary and systemic circulation, with blood flowing through the pulmonary arteries, veins, and aorta to various body parts, returning back to the heart. Mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood happens in the lungs, making it an essential and intriguing organ in the circulatory system.

Insights

  • The heart functions as a mechanical system with chambers, pumps, and circulatory pathways, facilitating oxygenation and circulation throughout the body.
  • The lungs play a crucial role in the heart's operation by enabling the exchange of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, highlighting the intricate connection between pulmonary and systemic circulation for maintaining bodily functions.

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Recent questions

  • What are the two circuits of the heart?

    The heart has two circuits: pulmonary and systemic circulation. Pulmonary circulation involves the journey of blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium. Systemic circulation starts from the left ventricle, travels through the aorta to various body parts, and returns to the right atrium.

  • How does blood travel to the lungs for oxygenation?

    Blood leaves the right ventricle, passes through the pulmonary trunk, and then into the pulmonary arteries. The blood then travels to the lungs through the left and right pulmonary arteries, where it undergoes oxygenation before returning to the heart.

  • What is the role of the pulmonary veins in the heart?

    The pulmonary veins deliver oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. This oxygenated blood is then pumped to the rest of the body through systemic circulation, providing essential oxygen to various tissues and organs.

  • What is the function of the coronary vessels in the heart?

    The heart receives oxygen from the systemic circulation through coronary vessels branching off the aorta. These vessels supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself, ensuring that the heart has the necessary nutrients and oxygen to function properly.

  • Why are the lungs considered an interesting organ in the body?

    The lungs are an interesting organ due to the mixing that occurs between systemic and pulmonary circulation. This unique feature allows for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, essential for maintaining the body's overall function and health.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Understanding the Heart's Circulatory System"

  • The heart can be viewed as a mechanical system with pumps and pipes attached.
  • The heart consists of chambers like the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle.
  • Blood leaves the right ventricle, passes through the pulmonary trunk, and then into the pulmonary arteries.
  • The blood then travels to the lungs through the left and right pulmonary arteries.
  • After oxygenation in the lungs, blood returns to the heart via the left and right pulmonary veins.
  • The pulmonary veins deliver oxygenated blood to the left atrium.
  • The journey from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium is known as pulmonary circulation.
  • The heart has two circuits: pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation.
  • Systemic circulation starts from the left ventricle, travels through the aorta to various body parts, and returns to the right atrium.
  • The heart receives oxygen from the systemic circulation through coronary vessels branching off the aorta.

12:19

Lungs: Mixing of Circulation Systems

  • Mixing occurs in the lungs between systemic and pulmonary circulation.
  • The lungs are an interesting organ due to this feature.
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