Circulatory System Flashcards
What are the three independent systems which make up the circulatory system
Cardiovascular
Pulmonary
Systemic
What is the purpose of the circulatory system
Transporting oxygenated blood from the lungs to the cells and then transporting deoxygenated blood back to lungs
On average, how many litres of blood are continuing travelling through the body
4.7 - 5.5
What else does the circulatory system transport around the body
Transports nutrients from the digestive system and removes waste products
What is the name of the process of blood moving around your body
Circulation
What does the arrangement of the circulatory system mean for the two blood types
They do not mix
What are the three main organs of the circulatory system
Heart
Blood Vessels
Blood
How big is the heart
Roughly the size of a human fist
Where is the heart located
In the thoracic cavity behind the sternum between the two lungs
What is the name of the space in which the heart is located
Mediastinum
What direction does the heart point
Diagonally downwards and to the left
What is the name of the muscle that constitutes the main tissue of the walls of the heart
The cardiac muscle
What is the role of the cardiac muscle
It keeps the heart pumping and blood flowing around the body
What is the cardiac muscle also known as
The myocardium
What is the pericardium
A double covering that encloses the heart
What is the purpose of the pericardium
It prevents friction when the heart contracts
How many chambers does the heart have
Four
What are the names of the chambers of the heart
Left and right Atria
Left and right ventricle
What connects these chambers of the heart
Heart valves
What are the two top chambers called
Left and right atrium
What divides the two top chambers
Septum
What type of blood does the right atrium receive and what does it do with this blood
It receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle
What does the right ventricle do with the blood
Pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs
What type of blood does the left atrium receive and what does it do with this blood
It receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle
What separates the left and right ventricle
Septum
What does the left ventricle do with the blood
Pumps it to the rest of the body
Why do ventricles have thicker walls than atria
Due to the force needed to pump the blood
Does the left ventricle have thicker or thinner walls than the right ventricle and why is this
It has thicker walls as it has to pump the blood throughout the body whereas the right ventricle only goes to the lungs
What does the pulmonary artery do
Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs
What does the superior vena cava do
Carries deoxygenated blood from the upper part of the body to the right atrium
What does the right atrium do
Receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava
What does the tricuspid valve do
Prevents blood from the right ventricle flowing back into the right atrium
What do the tendonous cords do
Prevent valve segments from flapping back into the atrium
What does the right ventricle do
Deoxygenated blood is pumped from here to the lungs
What does the Inferior vena cava do
Carries deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to the right atrium
What does the thinner muscular wall do
Contraction of this muscle forces blood to move from the right atrium to the lungs
What does the aorta do
Transports oxygenated blood from the left ventricle all over the body
What do the pulmonary veins do
Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium
What do the semi lunar valves do
Prevent back-flow of blood from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle
What does the left atrium do
Receives oxygenated blood via the pulmonary veins from the lungs
What does the biscuspid valve do
Prevents blood from the left ventricle flowing back into the left atrium
What does the left ventricle do
Oxygenated blood is pumped from this chamber around the body
What does the thicker muscular wall do
Provides powerful contractions to pump blood from the left ventricle all over the body
What does the septum do
Separating wall which prevents the mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
What causes the sound of a heart beat
The heart valves opening and closing
How many valves does the heart have
4
What are the names of the valves of the heart
Mitral (Bicuspid) and tricuspid
Aortic and pulmonary valves
What do the aortic and pulmonary valves do
They control blood flow OUT of the ventricles
What do valves ensure
The blood flows through the heart in one direction
