Systemic Circulation

The systemic circulation, also known as the grand circulation, is a part of the cardiovascular system whose function is to carry oxygenated blood from the heart to all the body's organs, and then to return this venous blood (oxygen-poor, carbon dioxide-rich blood) to the heart. Systemic circulation comprises two parts: arterial and venous microcirculation, and capillary microcirculation. Oxygenated blood is propelled by the heart's left ventricle into the aorta, before reaching the arteries, arterioles and finally the capillary networks. Deoxygenated blood leaves the capillaries for the venules, then the veins. It returns to the heart's right atrium via the two vena cava systems.