Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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Which chamber of the heart pumps blood to the systemic circulation?

Right atrium
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
Left atrium

The correct answer is: Left ventricle

The chamber of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the systemic circulation is the left ventricle. This chamber plays a crucial role in the circulatory system as it receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium, which has collected it from the lungs through the pulmonary veins. Once the left ventricle contracts, it generates the pressure needed to expel blood into the aorta, the body's largest artery. From the aorta, oxygenated blood is distributed to the rest of the body, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to tissues and organs. In contrast, the other chambers of the heart serve different functions. The right atrium collects deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cavae. The right ventricle then pumps this deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation via the pulmonary arteries. The left atrium, on the other hand, receives blood from the lungs but does not pump it throughout the body; its primary role is to send oxygen-rich blood down to the left ventricle. Thus, the left ventricle's function is pivotal for systemic circulation.