3.1.2: Mammalian Heart Flashcards
What is the primary function of the heart?
Pumping blood around the blood vessels
The heart is made of cardiac muscle and is responsible for maintaining circulation.
What type of muscle is cardiac muscle?
Myogenic
Cardiac muscle automatically contracts and relaxes without fatigue.
What do the coronary arteries supply to the cardiac muscle?
Oxygenated blood
This oxygenated blood is essential for aerobic respiration and ATP production.
What is the role of ATP in cardiac muscle function?
Provides energy for continuous contraction and relaxation
ATP is crucial for the heart’s pumping action.
What surrounds the heart and prevents it from swelling?
Pericardial membranes
These membranes are inelastic and help maintain the heart’s shape.
Which ventricle has the thicker muscular wall?
Left ventricle
This thickness allows it to pump blood at higher pressure throughout the body.
Why does the right ventricle have a thinner muscular wall?
It pumps blood only to the lungs, which are closer and require lower pressure
Thinner walls allow for slower blood flow for gas exchange.
What is the function of the atria?
Pumping blood into the ventricles
The atria have thin walls because minimal pressure is needed.
Fill in the blank: The _______ valves prevent backflow of blood from the ventricles into the atria.
Atrioventricular
There are two atrioventricular valves: the tricuspid and mitral valves.
True or False: The right atrium receives oxygenated blood from the body.
False
The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
What are the main arteries branching from the aorta?
- Left common carotid artery
- Left subclavian artery
- Brachiocephalic artery
These arteries supply blood to the head, neck, and arms.
What is the main purpose of the septum in the heart?
Separates the left and right sides of the heart
This prevents mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
