Florida Basic Recruit Training Program High Liability (First Aid) Practice Exam

Which side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?

1. Left side

2. Right side

3. Superior vena cava

4. Inferior vena cava

The correct answer is: Left side

The left side of the heart is responsible for receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs. This process occurs through the pulmonary veins, which transport the oxygen-rich blood that has just picked up oxygen in the lungs. Once the left atrium receives this oxygenated blood, it passes it into the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps the oxygen-rich blood out to the rest of the body through the aorta, supplying vital oxygen to tissues and organs. Understanding the heart's structure is critical in grasping how blood flow works throughout the body. The right side of the heart, on the other hand, receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs for reoxygenation. The superior and inferior vena cavae are major veins that return deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart, but they do not play a role in the reception of oxygenated blood from the lungs. This highlights the specific function of each side of the heart in the circulatory system.