What is the pathway of pulmonary circulation?

The pathway of pulmonary circulation is accurately described as moving from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart. This process begins when deoxygenated blood is pumped from the right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary arteries, which carry it to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen through the process of gas exchange in the alveoli. Once the blood is oxygenated, it returns to the left atrium of the heart via the pulmonary veins.

This pathway is essential for reoxygenating blood so that it can be distributed to the rest of the body through systemic circulation. Recognizing this sequence is vital for understanding both the function of the cardiovascular system and the role the lungs play in oxygenating the blood. The other choices outline pathways that are not related to pulmonary circulation; for instance, they refer either to systemic circulation or steps that do not reflect the specific route deoxygenated blood takes to become oxygenated.