The Heart Flashcards
What does the right side of the heart do
Pumps blood to the lungs
What a does the left side of the heart do
Pumps blood to the rest of the body
What is the coronary artery and what does it do
-supplies cardiac muscles with oxygenated blood
-branches off the aorta
-If blocked results in myocardial infarction
Describe the structure of the atrium
Thin walled and elastic and stretches as it collects blood
Describe the structure of a ventricle
Much thicker muscular walls as it has to contract strongly to pump blood some distance either to the lungs or the rest of the body
What do semilunar valves do
Prevent back flow of blood from the pulmonary artery and aorta into the ventricles
Describe the aorta
Connected to the left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body except the lungs
Describe the vena cava
Connected to the right atrium and brings deoxygenated blood back from the tissues of the body
Describe the pulmonary artery
Connected to the right ventricle and carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs, where its oxygen is replenished and it’s carbon dioxide is removed.
The pulmonary vein
Connected to the left atrium and brings oxygenated blood back from the lungs
