Circuitry of the Cardiovascular System
Cardiac output of the left heart equals cardiac output of the right heart
Cardiac output from the left side of the heart is the systemic blood flow.
Cardiac output from the right side of the heart is the pulmonary blood flow.
Blood flows along the following course:
From the lungs to the left atrium via the pulmonary vein
From the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve
From the left ventricle to the aorta through the aortic valve
From the aorta to the systemic arteries and the systemic tissues (i.e., cerebral, coronary, renal, splanchnic, skeletal muscle, and skin)
From the tissues to the systemic veins and vena cava
From the vena cava (mixed venous blood) to the right atrium
From the right atrium to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve
From the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery through the pulmonic valve
From the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation