The connection between the heart and lungs is primarily related to the process of respiration and circulation. Here’s how they interact:
-
Oxygen Exchange: The lungs are responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. When you inhale, oxygen enters the lungs and is transferred to the blood in tiny air sacs called alveoli.
-
Circulation of Oxygenated Blood: The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. Specifically, oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left atrium of the heart and is then pumped into the left ventricle, which delivers it to the aorta and out to the tissues.
-
Return of Deoxygenated Blood: After oxygen is delivered to body tissues, blood returns to the heart as deoxygenated blood. This blood flows into the right atrium of the heart and then into the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries to pick up oxygen again.
-
Communicative Signals: The heart and lungs also work in concert through signals that regulate their functions, such as the respiratory rate impacting heart rate and vice versa. For example, during physical exertion, the body signals both the heart and lungs to increase their activity levels to meet the demand for oxygen.
In summary, the lungs supply oxygen to the heart, which in turn pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body while also coordinating with the lungs to regulate breathing and heart rate.