Which statement about blood flow through the left side of the heart is correct?

Which statement about blood flow through the left side of the heart is correct?

• A. Blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the aortic valve.
• B. Blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the tricuspid valve.
• C. Blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve.
• D. Blood moves from the left ventricle to the left atrium through the mitral valve.

Answer: (C)

The left side of the heart moves oxygenated blood from the lungs into the systemic circulation, and the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is the mitral valve. It opens to allow blood to flow from the atrium into the ventricle during ventricular filling (diastole) and closes during systole to prevent backflow into the atrium. Therefore, the correct statement is that blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve. The aortic valve is the outflow valve from the left ventricle to the aorta, the tricuspid valve is on the right heart, and flow from the ventricle back to the atrium would be abnormal under normal conditions.

The left side of the heart moves oxygenated blood from the lungs into the systemic circulation, and the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is the mitral valve. It opens to allow blood to flow from the atrium into the ventricle during ventricular filling (diastole) and closes during systole to prevent backflow into the atrium. Therefore, the correct statement is that blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve. The aortic valve is the outflow valve from the left ventricle to the aorta, the tricuspid valve is on the right heart, and flow from the ventricle back to the atrium would be abnormal under normal conditions.