New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

What happens to blood after it is ejected from the right ventricle?

1. It enters the systemic circulation

2. It flows into the pulmonary arteries

3. It has a high concentration of oxygen

4. It was received directly from the aorta

The correct answer is: It flows into the pulmonary arteries

After blood is ejected from the right ventricle, it flows into the pulmonary arteries. This is a key step in the pulmonary circulation process. The right ventricle serves as a pump that sends deoxygenated blood through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary arteries. From there, the blood travels to the lungs where it will receive oxygen and release carbon dioxide, completing the gas exchange necessary for respiration. In contrast, entering systemic circulation pertains to oxygenated blood being delivered from the left side of the heart, primarily from the aorta, after its journey through the lungs. The concentration of oxygen in blood ejected from the right ventricle is low, as it has just returned from the body's tissues and has not yet been oxygenated in the lungs. Therefore, the pathway and definition associated with blood leaving the right ventricle unmistakably lead to the pulmonary arteries.