Circulatory system - Heart Flashcards
Organ system
A group of organs that work together to perform a common function
Blood
Fluid that carries substances such as oxygen, nutrients, cells and waste products
Blood vessels
Hold the blood and direct it around the body
Heart
Pumps the blood in order to ensure it keeps flowing through the blood vessels
Pulmonary circuit
Path in which deoxygenated blood is transported to the lungs, oxygenated and then returned to the heart
Systemic circuit
Circuit in which oxygenated blood is carried from the heart into the body, and deoxygenated blood back to the heart
Atrioventricular valves
Ensure that blood flows in one direction, from the atria to the ventricles
Labelling the heart
Remember that left and right are switched around when labelling. As if you are looking at somebody else’s heart face-to-face rather than labelling your own heart
Sections of the heart
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle
- Right atrioventricular valve
- Left atrium
- Left ventricle
- Left atrioventricular valve
Difference in size of muscle between left and right ventricle
The left ventricle has a thicker muscular wall than the right ventricle because the left ventricle pumps blood all around the body.
The right ventricle only has to pump blood to the lungs.
Vena Cava
Largest vein in the body
Where deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium from the body.
Pulmonary artery
Where deoxygenated blood is pumped out of the right ventricle towards the lungs.
Lungs (circulatory system)
Where blood is oxygenated
Pulmonary vein
Carries oxygenated blood out of the lungs and into the left atrium
Aorta
Largest artery in the body
Carries oxygenated blood out of the heart and into the rest of the body
Coronary arteries
Muscle tissues in the heart also need oxygen in order to respire and contract.
Coronary arteries make sure that the muscle tissues get all the oxygen and nutrients that they need in order for them to continue contracting
