Navigation> Stroke TIA PFO Connection Your Heart CLOSURE I Trial

Part 1 (Normal Anatomy) | Part 2 (PFO Ovale)

Part of the heart’s job is to pump blood which is being returned from the body to the lungs.  The oxygen from this blood has all been “used” by the organs of the body, so the heart pumps it to the lungs to be filtered and “loaded” with oxygen.  It is then returned to the heart to be pumped out to the body.

The heart is made up of four chambers, the right and the left atrium and the right and the left ventricle.  These chambers act as compartments – separating the used blood which has not yet been pumped to the lungs from the filtered and oxygenated blood returning from the lungs.  The right side of the heart deals with the “used” blood, while the left side deals with the freshly filtered and oxygenated blood.  The dividing walls between the left and right sides of the heart (atrial and ventricular septa) prevent the “used” blood from being mixed with the freshly filtered and oxygenated blood.

This system ensures that blood being sent out to the body is clean and full of oxygen. Click here to learn about PFO Ovale.