Which pumps blood to the lungs

Contraction is called systole, and relaxation is called diastole. During systole, your ventricles contract, forcing blood into the vessels going to your lungs and body. Your ventricles then relax during diastole and are filled with blood coming from the upper chambers, the left and right atria.

Then the cycle starts over again. This cycle is driven by your heart's electrical wiring, called the conduction system. Electrical impulses begin high in the right atrium, in the sinus node, and travel through specialized pathways to the ventricles, delivering the signal for the heart to pump.

The conduction system keeps your heart beating in a coordinated and normal rhythm, which in turn keeps blood circulating. This results in the continuous exchange of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood that is necessary to keep you alive.

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If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. The 2 upper chambers are the atria. They receive and collect blood. The 2 lower chambers are the ventricles. They pump blood to other parts of your body.

Here is the process:. The right atrium receives blood from the body. This blood is low in oxygen. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Heart chambers Heart valves Blood flow Crown Your heart The human heart is one of the hardest-working organs in the body.

Your heart is located underneath your sternum and ribcage, and between your two lungs. Blood flow through the heart. Read this next. Is It a Stroke or a Heart Attack?

Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Heart Valve Disorders. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Warning Signs of a Heart Attack. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Your heart has four separate chambers that pump blood, two on the right side and two on the left. Blood flows through your heart and lungs in four steps:. The left and right atria are smaller chambers that pump blood into the ventricles. The left and right ventricles are stronger pumps. The left ventricle is the strongest because it has to pump blood out to the entire body.

When your heart functions normally, all four chambers work together in a continuous and coordinated effort to keep oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout your body. Your heart has its own electrical system that coordinates the work of the heart chambers heart rhythm and also controls the frequency of beats heart rate. The task of your heart is to pump enough blood to deliver a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and the other vital organs.

To do this, your heart needs to:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.