[7.4] the structure of the heart

Question 1

what are the key features of the heart? (10)

Answer 1

• aorta
• vena cava (superior and inferior)
• pulmonary artery
• pulmonary vein
• semi-lunar valves
• right / left atrium
• atrioventricular valves
• right / left ventricle
• septum
• coronary arteries

Question 2

what is the role of the aorta?

Answer 2

• connected to left ventricle
• carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body except the lungs

Question 3

what is the role of the superior / inferior vena cava?

Answer 3

• connected to right atrium
• brings deoxygenated blood back from the tissues of the body (except the lungs)
• superior vena cava: tissue to heart from above heart (eg. head)
• inferior vena cava: tissue to heart from below heart (eg. legs)

Question 4

what is the role of the pulmonary artery?

Answer 4

• connected to right ventricle
• carries deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs, where its oxygen is replenished and its carbon dioxide is removed
• unusually for an artery, it carries deoxygenated blood

Question 5

what is the role of the pulmonary vein?

Answer 5

• connected to left atrium
• brings oxygenated blood back from lungs
• unusually for a vein, it carries oxygenated blood

Question 6

what is the role of the semi-lunar valves?

Answer 6

• in aorta and pulmonary artery
• prevent backflow of blood when pressure there exceeds that in the ventricles (close when A > V)

Question 7

what is the role of the right / left atrium?

Answer 7

• right atrium receives oxygen-poor bloody from body and pumps it to right ventricle
• left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from lungs and pumps it to left ventricle

Question 8

what is the role of the atrioventricular valves?

Answer 8

• to prevent backflow of blood into atria when ventricles contract
• left AV = bicuspid valve
• right AV = tricuspid valve

Question 9

what is the role of the right / left ventricle?

Answer 9

• right ventricle pumps blood to lungs
• left ventricle pumps blood to rest of body
  > has a much thicker muscle wall

Question 10

what is the role of the coronary arteries?

Answer 10

• supply blood to the heart itself ie. the muscles of the heart
• oxygenated blood is needed to meets its own respiratory needs