Systemic circulation is best described by which of the following pathways?

Systemic circulation is best described by which of the following pathways?

• A. Right atrium → venae cavae → right ventricle
• B. Pulmonary circulation
• C. Left ventricle → aorta → arteries → arterioles → capillaries → venules → venae cavae → right atrium
• D. Systemic circulation stops at capillaries

Answer: (C)

Systemic circulation describes the route that oxygenated blood takes from the left ventricle out to the body and back to the heart. The left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, then through arteries and arterioles to capillary beds where exchange with tissues occurs. The now deoxygenated blood is collected into venules and veins, travels back through the venous system, and returns to the heart via the superior and inferior venae cavae into the right atrium. This full loop—left ventricle to aorta to body tissues and back to the right atrium—is what the term systemic circulation captures. The other ideas either focus on the right side of the heart or the lungs (pulmonary circulation) or incorrectly state that systemic flow ends at the capillaries, which would omit the crucial venous return.

Systemic circulation describes the route that oxygenated blood takes from the left ventricle out to the body and back to the heart. The left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, then through arteries and arterioles to capillary beds where exchange with tissues occurs. The now deoxygenated blood is collected into venules and veins, travels back through the venous system, and returns to the heart via the superior and inferior venae cavae into the right atrium. This full loop—left ventricle to aorta to body tissues and back to the right atrium—is what the term systemic circulation captures. The other ideas either focus on the right side of the heart or the lungs (pulmonary circulation) or incorrectly state that systemic flow ends at the capillaries, which would omit the crucial venous return.