Question

Choose the correct path of blood from the heart.
a. Vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, aorta, lungs
b. Lungs, pulmonary vein, right atrium, right ventricle, aorta
c. Vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, pulmonary vein
d. Vena cava, left atrium, left ventricle, lungs, pulmonary artery
e. Left ventricle, lungs, pulmonary vein, pulmonary artery, right atrium

Answer 1

Hint: Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood to the heart. Also, we can remember that there are actually two circulatory systems in the body namely systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation.

Complete answer:
The circulatory system or the blood vessels of the body are divided functionally into two distinctive circuits namely, the systemic circuit and the pulmonary circuit. The right ventricle is the pump for the pulmonary circuit which circulates blood through the lungs. The pump for the systemic circuit which provides the blood supply for the tissue cells of the body is the left ventricle.

The flow of the blood is as follows:
• Pulmonary circulation: Right Atrium (deoxygenated blood) -> Right Ventricle (deoxygenated blood) -> Pulmonary Artery (deoxygenated blood) -> Lungs (blood picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide) -> Pulmonary Vein (oxygenated blood)
• Systemic circulation: Pulmonary Vein (oxygenated blood) -> Left Atrium (oxygenated blood) -> Left Ventricle (oxygenated blood) -> Aorta (oxygenated blood) -> Arteries-> Arterioles -> Capillaries (oxygenated blood) -> Tissues and Cells (oxygen is released and carbon dioxide is picked up) -> Venules -> Veins ->Vena Cava (deoxygenated blood) -> Back to Right Atrium and the cycle begins again.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
A part of the systemic circulation is the coronary circulation. In coronary circulation, the heart supplies blood to itself and prevents the drainage or removal of blood from the heart. Coronary arteries and cardiac veins are involved in coronary circulation. Since the heart needs to be pumping and providing blood to vital organs like the brain all the time, it is necessary for the heart to provide blood to itself and coronary circulation is responsible for it.

Note: Humans are said to have a close cardiovascular system meaning the blood in humans flows inside closed blood vessels such as arteries, veins and capillaries. This is seen in all the vertebrates and the invertebrates have the open type of circulatory system in which blood is pumped directly into the body cavity where the organs and tissues are surrounded by blood.