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A four chambered heart establishes two distinctly separate circulatory pathways. Pulmonary circulation carries blood from the heart to the lungs and back. Systemic circulation carries blood from the heart to all other areas of the body and back. To have separation of these pathways by a second ventricle insures no mixing of oxygenated blood (from the lungs) with de-oxygenated blood (from all other parts of the body). Pumping blood to all parts of the body with a higher concentration of oxygen would enable tissue to produce more energy which could sustain a higher level of activity and allow warm blooded animals to evolve (birds and mammals).

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17y ago

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