Circulatory System - The Heart Flashcards
1
Q
Mammals have a double circulatory system.
Explain what is meant by this.
A
The heart pumps blood around the body in two circuits:
- In the first circuit, the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs to take in oxygen
- In the second circuit, the heart pumps oxygenated blood around all the other organs of the body to deliver oxygen to body cells
2
Q
What are the four major blood vessels of the heart?
A
- Pulmonary artery
- Pulmonary vein
- Vena cava
- Aorta
3
Q
What are the four chambers of the heart?
A
- Right atrium
- Left atrium
- Right ventricle
- Left ventricle
4
Q
Name the wall that separates the two ventricles in the heart.
A
Septum
5
Q
Recall each part of the heart on a diagram.
A
6
Q
Describe the pathway of deoxygenated blood in the heart.
(the right side of the heart)
A
- Blood enters the heart from the vena cava carrying deoxygenated blood from rest of body into right atrium
- Right atrium fills and blood is pumped into right ventricle
- (Heart valves prevent blood flowing back into right atrium)
- Blood leaves the heart in the pulmonary artery to travel to lungs in order to take in oxygen
7
Q
Describe the pathway of oxygenated blood in the heart.
(the left side of the heart)
A
- Oxygenated blood returns from lungs to the heart by the pulmonary vein, entering the left atrium
- The left atrium pumps blood into the left ventricle
- (Heart valves prevent blood flowing back into left atrium)
- The aorta pumps oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of body
8
Q
Explain why the left ventricle has a thicker wall than the right ventricle.
A
- It needs more muscle as it has to pump blood around the whole body at a high pressure
- The right ventricle only has to pump blood to the lungs
9
Q
What is the equation to calculate cardiac output?
A
10
Q
What is meant by ‘cardiac output’?
A
The total volume of blood pumped by a ventricle of the heart every minute
