So how does blood flow through the heart? How Does the Heart Work? As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic tubes ...

These include arteries near the heart, like the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Muscular (distributing) arteries are medium-sized. They draw blood ... the backward flow of blood.

Each of these motions is essential for allowing the heart to expand and draw blood into the ventricles ... response to stress and its effect on blood flow to the heart, if any.