The heart Flashcards
What is the heart made of?
Cardiac muscle.
Where is cardiac muscle found?
Only in the heart.
What does ‘myogenic’ mean?
The heart can contract and relax without input from the nervous system or hormones.
Why doesn’t cardiac muscle fatigue?
As long as it has oxygen and glucose, it keeps working without getting tired.
What do coronary arteries do?
They supply oxygenated blood to the cardiac muscle.
What happens if a coronary artery is blocked?
It can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Name the four chambers of the heart.
Left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle.
Why are atria walls thinner than ventricle walls?
Atria only push blood a short distance, while ventricles need to pump blood further at higher pressure.
Why does the left ventricle have a thicker wall than the right ventricle?
It needs to pump blood all around the body, while the right ventricle only pumps to the lungs.
Name the four major blood vessels of the heart.
Aorta, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, vena cava.
What is the function of veins?
They bring blood into the heart.
What is the function of arteries?
They carry blood away from the heart.
What does ‘pulmonary’ mean?
It refers to the lungs.
What is the function of the vena cava?
It carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart.
What is the function of the pulmonary vein?
It carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
What is the function of the pulmonary artery?
It carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
What is the function of the aorta?
It carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
What is the function of heart valves?
To ensure blood flows in one direction (prevent backflow).
What are the two types of heart valves?
Atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
Where are the atrioventricular (AV) valves located?
Between the atria and ventricles.
What are the two AV valves called?
Bicuspid (mitral) valve (left side) and tricuspid valve (right side).
Where are the semilunar valves located?
In the pulmonary artery and aorta.
What is the function of the septum?
It separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood within the heart.
Why is it important for oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to stay separate?
To maintain a high concentration of oxygen in the blood going to the body.