Learn › Blood flow through the heart

Blood flow through the heart, in order

Blood flows from the body into the right atrium, through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle, through the pulmonary valve to the lungs, back through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, through the mitral valve to the left ventricle, and out through the aortic valve to the aorta and the body.

Checked against the sources below· Updated Oct 2026· Sources

The order, step by step

Superior and inferior vena cava bring oxygen-poor blood from the body.
Right atrium.
Tricuspid valve.
Right ventricle.
Pulmonary (pulmonic) valve.
Pulmonary arteries carry blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and drops off carbon dioxide.
Pulmonary veins bring oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
Left atrium.
Mitral (bicuspid) valve.
Left ventricle, the thickest chamber, which pumps to the whole body.
Aortic valve.
Aorta, then out to the body.

Mnemonic for the valves

"Try Pulling My Aorta": Tricuspid, Pulmonary, Mitral, Aortic, in the order blood passes through them.
"Tri before you bi": the tricuspid valve is on the right, the bicuspid (mitral) valve on the left.

Two facts students mix up

Pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-poor blood (arteries carry blood away from the heart). Pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood.
The right side pumps to the lungs; the left side pumps to the body.

Why it matters at the bedside

Left-sided heart failure backs blood up into the lungs: crackles, dyspnea, pink frothy sputum.
Right-sided heart failure backs blood up into the body: jugular vein distention, leg edema, liver enlargement.
Each valve has a listening spot (aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid and mitral areas), which is where murmurs are heard best.

NCLEX tip: If you know the flow, you can predict symptoms: blood backs up behind whichever side is failing. That is how the NCLEX expects you to reason about heart failure.

Practice this in NurseLingo

4,000+ NCLEX-style questions with rationales, 4,300+ flashcards on your lock screen and 380+ study podcasts, all in one app.

Get NurseLingo free

Test yourself: free cardiac practice questions with answers and rationales.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order of blood flow through the heart?

Vena cava, right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve, pulmonary arteries, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta.

Which chamber pumps blood to the body?

The left ventricle, which has the thickest muscular wall.

Do pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood?

Yes. The pulmonary veins are the only veins in the adult that carry oxygen-rich blood, from the lungs to the left atrium.

What is systemic circulation?

Systemic circulation is the loop that carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle through the aorta to the body and returns oxygen-poor blood to the right atrium. Pulmonary circulation is the other loop, from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium.

Keep studying

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)How-to guide EKG rhythms cheat sheetCardiac Heart Failure Nursing Care Plan and Interventions Myocardial Infarction Nursing Care Plan and Interventions Atrial Fibrillation Nursing Care Plan and Interventions

Sources

Anatomy and Physiology 2e, 19.1 Heart Anatomy, OpenStax

For study only, not medical advice. Ranges and protocols vary by facility; follow your program, your facility's policies and the provider's orders.