Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?

The left atrium is the chamber of the heart that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. When blood is oxygenated in the lungs through the process of gas exchange, it travels back to the heart via the pulmonary veins. The pulmonary veins deliver this oxygen-rich blood directly into the left atrium. Once the left atrium fills with oxygenated blood, it contracts and pushes the blood into the left ventricle, which then pumps the blood throughout the body via the aorta. This process is vital for supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs.

In contrast, the right atrium collects deoxygenated blood from the body, the right ventricle pumps this deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, and the left ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation. Understanding these relationships among the heart's chambers is crucial for grasping the overall function of the cardiovascular system.