Trace the flow of blood through your heart to your left hand.

Blood that has been used by the body returns to the heart via either the inferior or superior vena cava. This blood is deoxygenated. Before being pumped to your left hand, the blood will pass through the heart.  The path of the blood through the heart is as follows:

• Oxygen-poor blood that has been used by the cells is delivered back to right atrium via the inferior or superior vena cava.


• The right atrium pumps this oxygen-depleted blood to the right ventricle.


• The right ventricle then pumps the blood to lungs, where oxygen is received.


• The oxygenated blood is brought back to the heart via the pulmonary veins.


• The pulmonary veins enter the left atrium.


• The left atrium receives this oxygen-rich blood from the pulmonary veins and pumps it to the left ventricle.


• The left ventricle then pumps the oxygenated blood to the body, such as your left hand.