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

The atria are the upper chambers of the heart and play a crucial role in the cardiovascular system by receiving blood returning to the heart from the rest of the body. The right atrium collects deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cavae, while the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins. This design allows the atria to function effectively as receiving chambers that prepare blood for its next phase in the heart's pumping cycle.

In contrast, the ventricles, located below the atria, are responsible for pumping blood out of the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body. The aorta is the large artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the body, and the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.