Why All Blood Must Pass Through the Lungs for Oxygenation
Systemic circulation requires pulmonary oxygenation. Deoxygenated blood returns to the right heart → pulmonary arteries → lungs (CO2 offload, O2 uptake) → pulmonary veins → left heart → systemic arteries.
Without this circuit, cells cannot perform aerobic metabolism → ATP depletion → organ failure → death. The lungs are the non-negotiable gateway for blood oxygenation.
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