1.5 Pathways of Circulation
Unit D
Module 7 ~ Lesson 1
Pathways of Circulation
It is important to distinguish between pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation. Pulmonary circulation occurs when the right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary veins bring oxygenated blood back to the left side of the heart to be distributed to the rest of the body through the arteries. In the pulmonary system, arteries carry deoxygenated blood and veins carry oxygenated blood.
This is different from systemic circulation. Systemic circulation involves the circulation of blood to all other parts of the body aside from the lungs. This is the portion of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood away from the
heart, to the body, and then returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Read
Read "Pathways of the Circulatory System" on pages 276 and 277 of your textbook.
Self-Check