Final answer:
The right atrium is responsible for collecting deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cava, making it the correct answer to the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chamber of the heart that collects deoxygenated blood returning from the systemic circulation, which includes the body minus the lungs, is the right atrium. The blood arrives through two major veins, the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. The superior vena cava carries blood from the upper parts of the body, while the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower parts. Once in the right atrium, the blood proceeds to the right ventricle, where it is then pumped to the lungs for oxygenation via the pulmonary circuit.
In essence, the right atrium serves as the collection point for deoxygenated blood, acting as a crucial component of systemic and pulmonary circulation. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is c. Right atrium, which is the chamber that gathers deoxygenated blood returning to the heart from the superior and inferior vena cava veins.