The Heart and Blood Vessels (structure of the heart) Flashcards
What separates the heart into two sides?
A wall called a septum
What does the septum of the heart do?
It is a wall which splits the heart into two sides
How many chambers are there in a heart?
There are four chambers
What are the two upper chambers of the heart called?
Atria
How many atria are there in a heart?
There are two
Where are the atria located in the heart?
They are the upper two chambers of the heart
Where do the atria pump blood to?
The lower chambers of the heart called the ventricles
What type of walls do atria have?
They have thin walls
Why do atria have thin walls?
As they only have to pump blood for a short distance
Where do the ventricles of the heart pump blood?
They pump blood out of the heart
Which ventricle pumps blood to the lungs?
The right ventricle
Where does the right ventricle pump blood?
To the lungs
Which ventricle pumps blood to the head and body?
The left ventricle
Where does the left ventricle pump blood?
To the head and body
Why are the walls of the left ventricle much thicker and stronger than the walls of the right ventricle?
As there is a much longer circuit for the blood in the left ventricle to go through then the blood in the right ventricle
What separates the atria and ventricles from each other?
Valves
What hold valves in place in the heart?
Tendons
What is the role of tendons in the heart?
They hold the valves in place to separate the atria from the ventricles
What are tendons?
They are tough cords which are also called heart strings
What are tough cords which are also called heart strings?
Tendons
What attaches tendons to the walls of the heart?
Small projecting muscles
What do small projecting muscles attach to the walls of the heart?
Tendons
What do the valves of the heart ensure?
They ensure that blood can only flow from the atria to the ventricles and prevent the backflow of blood
What ensures that blood can only flow from the atria to the ventricles in the heart?
Valves
