All about the Heart and Circulatory System
Systemic circulation
One is the systemic circulation (the body's circulation), and the other is the pulmonary circulation through the lungs.
When we talk about blood pressure, we usually mean the pressure in the systemic (body) circulation. This refers to the path of blood from the left atrium of the heart through the body to the right ventricle. Along the way, the blood delivers oxygen to the cells and returns to the heart low in oxygen.
From here, it passes from the right ventricle into what is known as the pulmonary circulation. This means that the blood is pumped from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery and from there into the blood vessels of the lungs. These branch out in the lungs and become increasingly fine. As a result, the blood flows increasingly slowly and the vessel walls become thinner. This allows gas exchange to take place once the blood has reached the alveoli. Carbon dioxide is released and can be exhaled. Oxygen is absorbed. The now oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart via the pulmonary vein - more precisely, to the left atrium - and can begin its journey through the systemic circulation again.
Pulmonary circulation
If the blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation is elevated, this is called pulmonary hypertension, or pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is usually caused by an underlying lung or heart disease.
Articles in this category:
- Our Heart
- Blood pressure and pulse
- Normal pulse rates
- Pulse pressure: table, values, too high or too low?
- MAD - mean arterial pressure
- Blood pressure variability - what do blood pressure fluctuations mean?
- What is an ECG (electrocardiogram) and what does the doctor see?
- Venous blood pressure and the role of muscle pumps
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 11/2024).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
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