Predict what would happen if the pulmonary vein returned blood to the right atrium.
A)The expected cardiac cycle would occur-this is the normal path.
B)Abnormally high levels of oxygenated blood would be pushed into the systemic circuit.
C)Oxygenated blood would be kept in a circular path between the heart and lungs-it would not reach the systemic circuit.
D)Abnormally high levels of deoxygenated blood would be pushed into the systemic circuit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Normally, the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium, which then gets pumped into the systemic circulation. If it returned blood to the right atrium instead, oxygenated blood would mix with deoxygenated blood and be sent back to the lungs, not reaching the systemic circuit efficiently.

Predict What Would Happen If the Pulmonary Vein Returned Blood