What does systemic circulation involve?

Systemic circulation refers to the pathway in which oxygenated blood is delivered from the heart to the various tissues and organs of the body and then returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart. This process is essential for supplying the body's cells with the nutrients and oxygen they need for functioning and for removing waste products from metabolism.

The correct answer focuses on the role of systemic circulation in supplying blood to the body tissues. When oxygenated blood is pumped from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta, it travels through a network of arteries that branch out to every part of the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients. After the tissues use the oxygen, the blood returns to the heart through veins, ensuring that the cycle of circulation continuously sustains the body's demands.

Other options address processes that are part of the broader circulatory system but do not specifically denote systemic circulation. Delivering blood to the lungs pertains to pulmonary circulation, which is distinct as it oxygenates deoxygenated blood. Returning blood to the heart and filtering blood through the kidneys focus on other aspects of circulation and waste removal, which do not encapsulate the purpose and function of systemic circulation itself.