Which side of the heart supplies blood to the systemic circuit?

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Blood to the systemic circuit comes from the left side of the heart. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta and then onto the systemic arteries to nourish body tissues. After the tissues take up oxygen, the blood returns to the heart through the superior and inferior vena cavae into the right atrium, ready to enter the right side to be sent to the lungs for gas exchange. The right ventricle, by contrast, drives blood to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. The left ventricle has thick, powerful muscle because it must generate the high pressure needed to overcome systemic vascular resistance and perfuse the entire body.