Heart and arteries

• What are two common treatments for coronary heart disease?

  Statins and stents
• What do statins do?

  They reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood
• What is an advantage of statins?

  They reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
• What is a potential side effect of statins?

  They can cause liver problems
• What is a stent used for?

  To keep a coronary artery open
• What is an advantage of inserting a stent?

  It allows normal blood flow through the artery
• What is a limitation of stents?

  They do not treat the underlying causes of the disease
• What is a benefit of mechanical valves?

  They can last a lifetime
• What is a risk associated with mechanical valves?

  They increase the risk of blood clots
• What is a disadvantage of biological valves?

  They do not last as long and may need replacement
• What are the names for the heart chambers

  • Right atrium
  • Right ventricle
  • Left atrium
  • Left ventricle
• Artery characteristics

  • High pressure blood from heart to organs
  • Thick walls
  • Elastic fibres
• Capillaries characteristic

  • Very thin walls to allow oxygen to diffuse into cells and CO2 to diffuse in
• 


  Vein characteristics

  • Thin walls
  • Low pressure
  • Valves stop blood flowing backwards