Question

The nurse is assessing the cardiovascular status of a client who was found unresponsive in a lobby area. Following transfer of the client, the family asks how blood circulates through the body. The nurse is most correct to state the proper circulation as which? Place the pattern of circulation in the correct order beginning in the right atrium.

1) Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body
2) Right atrium → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body
3) Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body
4) Right atrium → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body

Answer 1

The proper circulation of blood through the body starts in the right atrium and ends in the aorta, with the blood passing through various valves, arteries, and veins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The proper circulation of blood through the body starts in the right atrium, then moves through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. From there, the blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery, which carries it to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood gives up carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen.

Afterward, the oxygenated blood travels back from the lungs through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium of the heart. The blood is then pumped through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. From the left ventricle, the blood is pumped through the aortic valve into the aorta, which branches into smaller arteries and carries the blood throughout the body.