Which side of the heart is responsible for pumping blood to the lungs?

The right side of the heart is responsible for pumping blood to the lungs. This function is part of the pulmonary circulation, where deoxygenated blood is carried from the body back to the heart and then pumped to the lungs for oxygenation. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen, which is essential for the body’s metabolic processes.

The right ventricle receives this deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and contracts to send it through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs. This is crucial for ensuring that the blood becomes oxygen-rich before it returns to the left side of the heart, which then pumps it to the rest of the body.

Understanding this concept is integral to grasping how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together to maintain effective gas exchange and oxygen delivery within the body.