AAMC FL Practice Exam

What is the correct pathway of blood flow through the circulatory system?

1. Aorta → arteries → veins → capillaries → heart

2. Aorta → capillaries → venules → arteries → heart

3. Aorta → arteries → arterioles → capillaries → venules → veins

4. Aorta → veins → heart → arteries → capillaries

The correct answer is: Aorta → arteries → arterioles → capillaries → venules → veins

The correct pathway of blood flow through the circulatory system begins at the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body that receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart. From the aorta, blood travels into the systemic arteries that branch off to supply blood to various tissues throughout the body. As arteries branch out, they become smaller arterioles, which further regulate blood flow into the capillary networks where the actual exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and tissues. After passing through the capillaries, blood collects in small vessels called venules. These venules eventually merge into larger veins that carry deoxygenated blood back toward the heart. Ultimately, the blood returns to the heart through the superior and inferior venae cavae, completing the circuit. This sequence effectively illustrates the journey of oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues and back again, emphasizing the role of each vessel type in this closed-loop system.