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Systemic vs. Pulmonary Circulation

Systemic vs. Pulmonary Circulation

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The cardiovascular system can be divided into two distinct, but cooperative, circulatory pathways:
  • The pulmonary circulation transports oxygen-poor blood (aka, deoxygenated blood) from the heart to the lungs, and returns oxygen-rich blood (aka, oxygenated blood) from the lungs to the heart.
    • Comprises lungs and heart.
  • The systemic circulation, which is more extensive, transports oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, and returns oxygen-poor blood from the body to the heart.
    • Comprises body tissues and heart.
#These two circulatory pathways cooperate to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body tissues and oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.
Circulatory pathways:
  • Pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.
  • Systemic arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body tissues.
Within the body tissues, oxygen is removed from the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide (and other metabolic wastes) is added to the blood.
  • Systemic veins return this oxygen-poor blood to the heart.
  • Pulmonary arteries carry the oxygen-poor blood away from the heart to the lungs, where gas exchange occurs.
  • The pulmonary vein AND the systemic artery carry oxygen-rich blood.

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