Final answer:
The pulmonary circuit transports oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs, while the systemic circuit transports oxygen-rich blood to the body's tissues. The pulmonary circuit is important for gas exchange, while the systemic circuit delivers oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pathway of Blood through the Pulmonary Circuits:
- Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left atrium of the heart via the pulmonary veins.
- From the left atrium, it passes through the bicuspid (mitral) valve and enters the left ventricle.
- The left ventricle contracts, forcing the oxygenated blood into the aorta.
- The aorta branches into systemic arteries, which carry the oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
Pathway of Blood through the Systemic Circuits:
- The right atrium receives the deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava.
- The blood then passes through the tricuspid valve and enters the right ventricle.
- The right ventricle contracts, pushing the deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery.
- The oxygen is picked up from the pulmonary artery.
The pulmonary circuit is important for gas exchange, as it allows oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be removed.
The systemic circuit is important for delivering oxygenated blood to all parts of the body and removing waste products like carbon dioxide.