The circulatory system Flashcards
What is the function of the circulatory system?
To pump blood around the body
What are the 4 chambers the heart is divided into?
Right atrium(RA), Left atrium(LA), Right ventricle(RV), Left ventricle(LV)
What are the two upper chambers of the heart called?
The atria
What are the two lower chambers of the heart called?
The ventricles
What is the function of the atria?
They receive blood returning to the heart from other areas of the body
What does the right atrium do?
-Receives blood returning to the heart from the superior and inferior venae cavae.
-The superior vena cava returns de-oxygenated blood from the head, neck, arm and chest regions of the body
to the right atrium.
-The inferior vena cava returns de-oxygenated blood from the lower body regions(legs, back, abdomen and pelvis) to the right atrium
What does the left atrium do?
-Receives blood returning to the heart from the pulmonary veins.
-The pulmonary veins extend from the left atrium to the lungs and bring oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
What is the function of the ventricles?
To pump blood to the entire body
What does the right ventricle do?
Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the main pulmonary artery
What does the left ventricle do?
Receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the aorta
What is the twin layered sac the heart is surrounded by?
Pericardium. The cavity between the layers is call pericardial fluid
What are the three layers of the heart called?
epicardium (the outer layer), the myocardium
(the strong middle layer that forms most of the heart wall) and the endocardium (the
inner layer).
What are the coronary arteries?
the blood vessels supplying oxygenated blood to the heart
muscle. There are two coronary arteries, the left and right
What is the bicuspid valve?
One of the four valves in the heart- between the
left atrium and the left ventricle- allows the blood to flow in one direction only- from the left atrium to the left ventricle
What is the tricuspid valve?
Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle-allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle and prevents blood from flowing backwards