2.6 - The structure and function of the heart Flashcards
What is the heart
It is a major organ of the circulatory system and is found in the chest and is protected by the rib cage.
It’s function is to pump blood around the body.
The walls of the heart a tree made out of cardiac muscle
Where does the left side of the heart pump blood too
The left side of the heart pumps blood with oxygen to the body cells
Where does the right side of the heart pump blood to
The right side of the heart pumps blood without oxygen to the lungs
Describe the human circulatory system
It is a double system
- pulmonary circuit
- systemic system
Describe the pulmonary circuit
The pulmonary circuit carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart
Describe the systemic circuit
The systemic circuit carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the aorta and then the rest of the body and returns deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart
What is heart rate
Number of times to the heart beats in one minute
Normal range 60-90 bpm
What is stroke volume
The volume of blood ejected by each ventricle during contraction (ml)
Normal range 60-100ml
How much blood does each side of the heart pump
The left and right ventricles pump the same volume of blood through the aorta and pulmonary artery
What is cardiac output
Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute and is the function of two factors: heart rate and stroke volume
CO = HR x SV
L. bpm. ml
What is the contraction and relaxation of the heart known as
Contraction of the heart is known as systole and relaxation of the heart is known as diastole
3 stages of cardiac cycle
Atrial and ventricular diastole
Atrial systole
Ventricular systole
Atrial and ventricular diastole
During this stage all chambers of the heart are relax and filling with blood.
The AV valves are open.
Blood returning to the atria flows into the ventricles. Pressure in the arteries closes the semi lunar valves.
Atrial systole
During this stage, both atria contract.
The remaining blood in the atria is forced into relax ventricles through the open AV valves.
Ventricular systole
AV valves close preventing back flow of blood into atria. The ventricles contract.
Blood is pumped out of the heart through semi lunar valves into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
The SL valves close when pressure in arteries exceeds pressure in ventricles. This prevents back flow of blood into the ventricles.