Why does the blood go from the lungs to pick up oxygen and then return back to the heart to be pumped around the body ?
Why can't it just get out of the lungs from the first pump and then pick up an artery and go around of the body instead of returning ?
Sorry, I am smiling.... but it doesn't do that because that is just not the way it was built.
Maybe as we "evolve" we will become more efficient. <G>
The blood goes from the lungs to pick up oxygen because the lungs are where the process of oxygenation occurs. When we breathe in, oxygen from the air enters into our lungs and diffuses into tiny air sacs called alveoli. These alveoli are surrounded by an extensive network of small blood vessels called capillaries.
The oxygen in the alveoli diffuses into the capillaries, where it binds to a molecule called hemoglobin in red blood cells. Oxygenated blood then travels from the capillaries in the lungs to pulmonary veins, which bring it back to the heart. From there, the heart pumps the oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body through the systemic circulation.
The reason blood doesn't bypass the heart and directly travel to the rest of the body from the lungs is because the heart plays a crucial role in maintaining circulation. The heart ensures that blood flows continuously and reaches all parts of the body efficiently. It acts as a pump, pushing blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins.
Additionally, the heart is responsible for maintaining blood pressure, which is necessary for the proper functioning of organs and tissues. By returning blood to the heart after oxygenation in the lungs, the body can maintain a continuous cycle of oxygenation and circulation.
In summary, the blood returning to the heart from the lungs allows for efficient oxygenation and ensures a continuous flow of oxygenated blood throughout the body, thanks to the pump-like function of the heart.