Blood Flow through the Heart

Blood flow step #1

Blood that has circulated through the body, which has lost its oxygen and collected carbon dioxide, enters through the vena cava into the right atrium of the heart.

Blood flow step #8

Blood will then move through the arteries, then through capillaries, and then return through the veins.

Oxygenated blood returns from the Lungs into this chamber.

Left Atrium

The largest and strongest chamber in the heart

Left Ventricle

Oxygenated blood passes through this valve between the left atrium and left ventricle

Mitral Valve (Bicuspid Valve)

Blood flow step #5

Oxygenated blood then flows through the pulmonary vein and into the left atrium.

Blood flow step #6

Oxygenated blood then pumps through the mitral valve and into the left ventricle.

This takes deoxygenated blood to the lungs

Pulmonary Artery

Oxygenated blood from the lungs goes through these tubes that dump blood into the chamber on the left side of the heart.

Pulmonary Veins

Deoxygenated blood is pumped through this valve and into the Pulmonary Artery

Pulmonary valve

deoxygenated blood enters the heart here

Right Atrium

Ventricle that contains deoxygenated blood from the body

Right Ventricle

This structure receives deoxygenated blood from the upper parts of the body.

Superior Vena Cava

Blood flow step #7

The left side of the heart contracts the strongest to send blood out the left ventricle and through the aortic arch on its way to all parts of the body. At this point, there are a few options for the blood flow: blood can be pumped • through the carotid artery and into the brain. • through the auxiliary arteries and into the arms. • through the aorta and into the torso and legs.

This structure receives oxygenated blood from the Left Ventricle

Aorta

The valve that oxygen-rich blood passes through in order to enter the Aorta.

Aortic Valve

This structure receives deoxygenated blood from the lower parts of the body.

Inferior Vena Cava

Blood flow step #10

The cycle repeats

Blood flow step #9

Deoxygenated blood (blood without oxygen) will then return to the heart.

Blood flow step #4

In the lungs, tiny blood vessels called capillaries absorb carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen.

Blood flow step #2

The right atrium contracts and pumps the blood through the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle.

Blood flow step #3

The right ventricle then pumps blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs.

the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle

Tricuspid Valve