What is the function of pulmonary circulation?

The correct answer highlights the essential role of pulmonary circulation in the cardiovascular system. Pulmonary circulation is primarily responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. In this process, blood that has returned to the heart from the body, low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide, moves through the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.

Once the blood reaches the lungs, it undergoes gas exchange; carbon dioxide is expelled, and oxygen is absorbed. This oxygen-rich blood then travels back to the heart through the pulmonary veins, ready to be pumped out to the rest of the body. This cycle is crucial for maintaining adequate oxygen levels in the blood and removing carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism.

Other options relate to different functions of the cardiovascular system. For instance, oxygenating blood in the heart pertains to the general function of the heart but does not specifically define pulmonary circulation. Moving oxygenated blood to the body refers to systemic circulation, while regulating blood pressure concerns overall vascular health rather than the specific function of pulmonary circulation.