the heart

• atria location

  upper chambers of the heart
• ventricles location


  lower chambers of the heart
• aorta


  large vessel bringing oxygenated blood out of the heart to the body (left side)
• why is the muscle wall of the left ventricle thicker than the right ventricle?


  to generate more pressure to force blood all around the body, the right side only delivers blood to the lungs
• which side of the heart had deoxygenated blood?

  right side
• pulmonary vein


  the vessel that brings oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart
• a difference between the blood flow in arteries and veins

  A: oxygenated, more nutrients, less waste products

  V: deoxygenated, less nutrients, more waste products
• stent


  a method used to unblock a coronary artery in the heart
• blood flow from atriums to heart

  blood flows from the atria down to the ventricles
• coronary arteries


  the vessels which suppy oxygen to the heart muscles
• structural difference between arteries and veins

  A: thicker walls, more elastic tissue, no valves

  V: thinner walls, less elastic tissues, have valves
• artery


  the blood vessel type that carries blood from the heart to the body
• pulmonary artery


  the vessel that brings deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs
• vena cava


  the large vessel that brings deoxygenated blood back into the heart
• function of valves in the heart


  to prevent backflow of blood
• capillaries


  the blood vessel type that is found within organs that link arteries and veins
• vein


  the blood vessel type that carries blood from the organs back to the heart
• double circulatory system


  one part carries blood between heart and lungs; the other part carries blood between the heart and other organs
• the flow of blood in veins relies on...


  the skeletal muscle contraction
• why are capillaries once cell thick


  substances diffuse easily between capillaries and the cells
• coronary heart disease (chd)


  increase of fatty material in coronary arteries
• effects


  decrease blood supply --> decreased oxygen + glucose to heart muscles --> decreased respiration --> heart attack
• what happens in chd


  arteries are block by build up of cholesterol and so blood cannot flow through to the body
• chd treatment


  • statins --> medicine --> decrease blood cholesterol --> decrease chd
  • stents (metal mesh in artery)
• how are stents used


  1. stent inserted
  2. balloon inflated
  3. balloon removed stent left
• faulty valves


  valves damaged under increased pressure - replace using titanium or biological valves (eg. pig/human)
• arrhythmia


  pacemaker cells stop working properly which leads to abnrmal heartbeat
• arrhythmia treatment


  artificial pacemaker (electronical device) - send out strong electronic signals, normal heart contractions