What is the term for circulation that moves from the heart's right atrium to the lungs?

The term that describes the circulation moving from the heart's right atrium to the lungs is pulmonary circulation. This specific pathway begins when deoxygenated blood flows from the right atrium into the right ventricle. The right ventricle then pumps this blood through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen, resulting in oxygenated blood that will return to the heart's left atrium.

Understanding pulmonary circulation is crucial because it highlights the role of the lungs in oxygenating blood, which is essential for overall body function. This process is distinct from systemic circulation, which refers to the movement of oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to the rest of the body, and from coronary circulation, which specifically supplies blood to the heart muscle itself. Peripheral circulation encompasses the blood flow to the extremities and tissues outside the heart and brain.

Identifying pulmonary circulation helps to grasp how the heart and lungs work together in the process of respiration and blood oxygenation, emphasizing its importance in the cardiovascular system.