The heart has two pumps, one on each side, that work together to circulate blood through the body. The right side receives deoxygenated blood from veins and pumps it to the lungs, and the left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it into arteries throughout the body. Valves between the atria and ventricles and between the ventricles and arteries ensure blood flows in only one direction through this cycle to efficiently deliver oxygenated blood from the lungs to tissues.