Which part of the heart is responsible for collecting blood from the body?

The right atrium is responsible for collecting deoxygenated blood from the body. It receives blood from the superior and inferior vena cavae, which return blood from the upper and lower parts of the body, respectively. This chamber acts as a holding area before the blood is pumped into the right ventricle, which then sends it to the lungs for oxygenation.

The left ventricle, while crucial for pumping oxygenated blood to the body, does not collect blood; rather, it is responsible for delivering it. The aorta is the large artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the body, and the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. Thus, the right atrium plays a vital role in the heart's function by initially gathering the blood that returns from systemic circulation.