The heart is a large muscular organ which constantly pushes
oxygen-rich blood to the brain and extremities and transports
oxygen-poor blood from the brain and extremities to the lungs to
gain oxygen. Blood comes into the right atrium from the body, moves
into the right ventricle and is pushed into the pulmonary arteries
in the lungs. After picking up oxygen, the blood travels back to
the heart through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium, to the
left ventricle and out to the body's tissues through the aorta.
Review Date: 10/03/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Medical Illustration Team
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
