2.6

Question 1

what is the heart?

Answer 1

•the heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body via a complex network of blood vessels

Question 2

what are the 4 chambers of the heart called?

Answer 2

•right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle

Question 3

what enters to the right atrium through the vena cava?

Answer 3

•deoxygenated blood

Question 4

where does deoxygenated blood enter?

Answer 4

•the right atrium through the vena cava

•the right atrium then contracts and blood is forced into the right ventricle

Question 5

what happens at the same time while the right atrium contracts and blood is forced into the right ventricle?

Answer 5

•oxygenated blood enters the left atrium through the pulmonary vein

Question 6

where does oxygenated blood enter?

Answer 6

•oxygenated blood enters the left atrium through the pulmonary vein

Question 7

what happens when the right ventricle contracts?

Answer 7

•deoxygenated blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery where it travels to the lungs to pick up oxygen

Question 8

what happens when the left ventricle contracts?

Answer 8

•oxygenated blood is pumped through the aorta to the rest of the body

Question 9

what are the walls of the heart made from?

Answer 9

•cardiac muscle

Question 10

what wall of cardiac muscle is thicker?

Answer 10

•the left ventricle wall is thicker

Question 11

why is the left ventricle wall thicker than the right?

Answer 11

•because it has to pump blood all around the body, whereas the right ventricle only has to pump blood to the lungs.

Question 12

where are valves located in the heart?

Answer 12

•between the atria and ventricles and between the ventricles and pulmonary artery and aorta

Question 13

why are valves present in the heart?

Answer 13

•to prevent the back flow of blood and ensure that blood travels in one direction