Blood Flow in the Right Side of Heart

Deoxygenated Blood from the upper body flows through the Superior Vena Cava to the right side of the heart, while blood from the lower body enters the heart into the Right Atrium through the Inferior Vena Cava. It passes through the Tricuspid Valve to the Right Ventricle and through the Pulmonic Valve into the Pulmonary Artery.

NOTE:

• The pulmonary artery, unlike other arteries, carries deoxygenated blood.
• The Mitral Valve is also known as the Bicuspid Valve.

Blood Flow in the Left Side of Heart

Oxygenated Blood from the Lungs flows through the Pulmonary Veins into the left atrium, through the Mitral Valve into the Left Ventricle. It then passes through the Aortic Valve to go into the Aorta which in turn transports the blood to the upper and lower body.

NOTE: 

• Similar to the pulmonary artery, the pulmonary vein carries not deoxygenated blood but oxygenated blood from the lungs.

TYPES OF BLOOD VESSELS

Arteries: These are the thick-walled blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood (leading to its high blood pressure) to the body.

Veins: The veins have thinner walls as compared to arteries but is almost just as thick. It carries deoxygenated blood back to the body.

Capillaries: The small blood vessels that red blood cells squeeze and release oxygen through.