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Question

Difficulty: MediumHuman Anatomy and Body Systems

After oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream within the lungs, which vessel is responsible for transporting this oxygenated blood directly into the left atrium of the heart?

  1. A
    Pulmonary artery
  2. B
    Inferior vena cava
  3. Pulmonary veinAnswer
  4. D
    Aorta

Answer

Pulmonary vein
The pulmonary veins are unique among veins in the adult human body because they carry oxygen-rich blood. After gas exchange occurs in the alveolar capillaries of the lungs, blood rich in oxygen travels through the pulmonary veins directly into the left atrium to enter systemic circulation via the left ventricle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the blood flow pathway of the pulmonary circulation loop.
Deoxygenated blood leaves the right side of the heart, passes through the alveolar capillaries in the lungs for oxygenation, and returns to the left side of the heart.
Pulmonary circulation specifically manages gas exchange between the cardiac ventricles and pulmonary alveoli.
2
Determine which specific vessel carries the reoxygenated blood to the receiving chamber of the heart.
By anatomical definition, vessels leading to the heart are veins; the pulmonary veins carry newly oxygenated blood directly into the left atrium.
Although most veins in systemic circulation carry deoxygenated blood, the pulmonary veins represent an important functional exception.

Key Concept

Pulmonary Circulation and Cardiovascular Vessel Function
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Human Anatomy and Body Systems

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