Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHeart AnatomyBlood Flow Through the HeartBlood Flow Through the BodyRole of Heart ValvesAdverse Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Heart Anatomy
Blood Flow Through the Heart
Blood Flow Through the Body
Role of Heart Valves
Adverse Conditions
Blood flow through theheartinvolves contractions of the heart muscle to move blood from the rightchambers of the heartto thelungs—where it receives oxygen—and then to the left chambers of the heart where it is pumped to the rest of the body through a network of blood vessels.
Involved in this process arefour heart valvesthat are synchronized to open and shut with each heartbeat. This ensures the consistent flow of blood in one direction from the heart viaarteries(which carry oxygenated blood) and back to the heart via veins (which carry deoxygenated blood along with carbon dioxide).
This article maps the order of blood flow through the heart. It also describes problems that can affect blood flow when different parts of the circulatory system malfunction.
How the Circulatory System
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Components of the Heart Involved in Blood Flow
The heart has two upper chambers, called the left and rightatria, and two lower chambers, called the left and rightventricles. With each heartbeat, blood moves from one chamber to the next through a series of heart valves.
Several major arteries and veins are involved in this process:
There are four valves that control blood flow in and out of the chambers of the heart:
Right Side of Heart
Here is the path that blood takes in the right side of the heart:
Left Side of Heart
Here is the path that blood takes in the left side of the heart:
Once oxygenated blood leaves the heart, it is pumped through a network of vessels throughout the body to deliver nutrients and oxygen to cells.
Here is the path blood flows once it exits the left side of the heart:
What Is the Correct Order of Blood Vessels From the Heart?Oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart gets pumped out of the aorta. From there, blood flows through arteries, arterioles, and then capillaries (tiny blood vessels that transport blood, nutrients, and oxygen to cells).Deoxygenated blood from the capillaries then flows back to the heart through venules, veins, and ultimately through the superior and inferior vena cava.
What Is the Correct Order of Blood Vessels From the Heart?
Oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart gets pumped out of the aorta. From there, blood flows through arteries, arterioles, and then capillaries (tiny blood vessels that transport blood, nutrients, and oxygen to cells).Deoxygenated blood from the capillaries then flows back to the heart through venules, veins, and ultimately through the superior and inferior vena cava.
Oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart gets pumped out of the aorta. From there, blood flows through arteries, arterioles, and then capillaries (tiny blood vessels that transport blood, nutrients, and oxygen to cells).
Deoxygenated blood from the capillaries then flows back to the heart through venules, veins, and ultimately through the superior and inferior vena cava.
Role of Heart Valves With Blood Flow
The four heart valves prevent the backward flow of blood and keep blood moving in one direction. The valves are comprised of flaps of muscular tissues that open in one direction. The tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valves have three flaps, while the mitral valve has two flaps.
The tricuspid and mitral valves are located on each end of the two ventricles. They act as one-way inlets of blood on one side of a ventricle and one-way outlets of blood on the other side of a ventricle.
The pulmonary valve regulates the flow of blood in and out of the lungs, while the aortic valve regulates the flow of blood out of the heart and to the body.
Heart Valve Disease: Treatment Considerations
Conditions That Affect Normal Blood Flow
A healthy heart normally beats anywhere from 60 to 70 times per minute when you’re at rest. This rate can be higher or lower depending on your general health and physical fitness. Athletes generally have a lower resting heart rate.
Your heart rate will increase when you move or engage in physical activity. This is because your muscles use oxygen while they work. In response, the heart works harder to bring oxygenated blood where it is needed.
Certain conditions can affect blood flow to and from the heart, including:
Summary
Blood flow moves in one direction through the chambers of the heart. Electrical impulses are generated to make your heart beat. Heart valves open and shut to regulate blood flow. Cardiac arrhythmia, heart blocks, heart valve disease, heart failure, and cardiac ischemia can all affect the normal flow of blood to and from the heart.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The heart.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Conduction disorders.NHS Inform.How the heart works.American Heart Association.About heart valves.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About valvular heart disease.Skrzynia C, Berg JS, Willis MS, Jensen BC.Genetics and heart failure: a concise guide for the clinician.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):10-7. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117170446Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the heart works.Additional ReadingThe Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.Heart Anatomy.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The heart.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Conduction disorders.NHS Inform.How the heart works.American Heart Association.About heart valves.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About valvular heart disease.Skrzynia C, Berg JS, Willis MS, Jensen BC.Genetics and heart failure: a concise guide for the clinician.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):10-7. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117170446Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the heart works.Additional ReadingThe Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.Heart Anatomy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The heart.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Conduction disorders.NHS Inform.How the heart works.American Heart Association.About heart valves.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About valvular heart disease.Skrzynia C, Berg JS, Willis MS, Jensen BC.Genetics and heart failure: a concise guide for the clinician.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):10-7. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117170446Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the heart works.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The heart.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Conduction disorders.
NHS Inform.How the heart works.
American Heart Association.About heart valves.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About valvular heart disease.
Skrzynia C, Berg JS, Willis MS, Jensen BC.Genetics and heart failure: a concise guide for the clinician.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):10-7. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117170446
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the heart works.
The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.Heart Anatomy.
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