Heart Structure Flashcards
What is cardiac muscle ?
it contracts involuntarily
it doesn’t fatigue
it has many mitochondria
it’s made of cells connected by cytoplasmic bridges - allows electrical impulses to pass through the tissue
What is the function of valves
prevent the back flow of blood by closing
they can’t open and close by themselves because they have no muscle
What controls the opening and closing of valves
Differences in pressure
Closing of valves gives heart sound ‘lub-dub’
What are tendinous cords
They prevent valves from turning inside out as the ventricular pressure increases
How many chambers, valves and blood vessels are there
4 of each
What are the 4 chambers?
Left / Right atria
Left / Right ventricle
What are the 4 valves
2 Atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and bicuspid)
Aortic valve - semilunar
Pulmonary valve - semilunar
What are the 4 blood vessels
Aorta
Vena Cava
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary vein
What is a pulmonary circuit
takes blood to the lungs from the right side
what is a systemic circuit
Takes blood to the rest of the body from the left side
What is the role of the pulmonary vein
Returns blood from the lungs
What is the role of the left atrium ?
receives blood from the lungs and pushes it into the ventricle
What is the role of the atrioventricular (bicuspid) valve
stops blood flowing back into the atrium as the ventricle contracts
What is the role of the left ventricle
receives blood from the atrium and pushes it to the body
what is the role of the the aortic valve?
stops blood flowing back into the ventricle as the ventricle relaxes
What is the role of the aorta
distributes blood to all organs except the lungs
what is the pulmonary artery
Distributes blood to the lungs
What is the pulmonary valve
stops blood flowing back into the ventricle as the ventricle relaxes
what is the right ventricle
receives blood from the atrium and pushes it to the lungs
what is the
