Pulmonary circulation refers to the circulation of blood in which deoxygenated blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and oxygenated blood is returned to back to the heart. Pulmonary circulation only occurs between the heart and the lungs.Systemic circulation refers to the circulation of blood in which oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart to the body and deoxygenated blood is returned back to the heart. Systemic circulation occurs between the heart and the entire body..