Final answer:
Pulmonary circulation moves oxygen-depleted blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated and then back to the heart. Systemic circulation then takes oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart to the body and returns deoxygenated blood back to the right side of the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pulmonary circulation describes the flow of blood through the lungs, while the systemic circulation describes the flow of blood throughout the rest of the body. This is how the human body ensures that blood is oxygenated and that carbon dioxide is expelled.
The pulmonary circulation moves blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs, where blood picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. Here, the blood becomes oxygenated, turning from deoxygenated (dark red/blue) to oxygenated (bright red) in color, signifying its rich oxygen content. The oxygenated blood then flows back to the left side of the heart, ready to be pumped out to the body.
On the other hand, the systemic circulation carries the oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart to various tissues in the body, providing them with essential oxygen and nutrients while picking up carbon dioxide and other waste products. The now deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the heart, completing the cycle as it gets ready to be sent back to the lungs through pulmonary circulation. This interdependent relationship ensures that oxygen and carbon dioxide are continuously exchanged throughout the body.