HESI A2 Science Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Blood entering the left ventricle has just been oxygenated in the lungs and is now ready to be distributed throughout the body. The left ventricle contracts, pushing the blood into the aorta, which is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart. This process is part of systemic circulation, where the oxygenated blood travels through the aorta and branches out to supply all body tissues with the oxygen and nutrients they need.

In contrast, pulmonary circulation involves the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back again, which is not the next step for blood in the left ventricle. The right atrium and left atrium do not come into play after the left ventricle as they are part of the heart's receiving chambers, not the outgoing pathway of blood after it is oxygenated. Thus, the correct answer highlights the role of systemic circulation in delivering oxygenated blood to the body's tissues.