The heart is the primary organ responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
How the Heart Delivers Oxygen-Rich Blood
The process begins in the lungs where blood picks up oxygen. Then, the heart's powerful left ventricle pumps this oxygen-rich blood into the aorta, the body's largest artery. From the aorta, the blood travels through a vast network of arteries and smaller blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body. This constant circulation sustains life. As noted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/atherosclerosis), this oxygen-rich blood flow is crucial for the health of tissues and organs. A reduction in blood flow can cause serious problems. Furthermore, organs themselves require oxygen-rich blood to function; for example, organ donation is only possible after death in a hospital setting because organs need a supply of oxygen-rich blood to remain suitable for transplantation (https://topics/organ-tissue-donation/question-and-answer/if-i-am-a-registered-donor-what-will-happen-to-my-body-after-my-death).
While other organs receive and utilize oxygen-rich blood, the heart itself is the central pump responsible for its distribution.
