Prepare for the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Exam. Enhance your skills with engaging multiple-choice questions, detailed explanations, and essential biology concepts. Get exam-ready and boost your performance with expert tips and study resources!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is the correct order of blood flow through the human heart?

  1. Right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, body

  2. Right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, body

  3. Left atrium, left ventricle, body, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs

  4. Right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, body, lungs, left ventricle

The correct answer is: Right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, body

The correct sequence of blood flow through the human heart is pivotal for understanding the circulatory system's efficiency. Blood flows through a systematic route beginning with the right atrium, where deoxygenated blood from the body returns via the superior and inferior vena cavae. From the right atrium, blood moves into the right ventricle. The right ventricle then pumps this blood to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries, where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the process of respiration. Once oxygenated, the blood returns to the heart, entering the left atrium from the pulmonary veins. Next, blood moves from the left atrium into the left ventricle, which is the strongest chamber of the heart. The left ventricle then pumps the oxygen-rich blood out to the body through the aorta, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to tissues. This pathway underscores the separation between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the heart and the organized nature of the circulatory system, emphasizing the importance of both the right and left sides of the heart in maintaining overall homeostasis.