The heart & CVD

• The valves between the chambers prevent backflow of blood during contraction.
• The heart is called a double pump because the blood takes two different pathways
• The Tricuspid valve is on the right side of the heart
• The bicuspid valve is on the left side of the heart
• There are two semi-lunar valves
• The left side of the heart uses oxygenated blood
• The right side of the heart uses deoxygenated blood
• The left side of the heart is bigger because the blood needs a greater force too be pushed all around the body, whereas the right side just pumps to the lungs
• The heart has four chambers - atria (top) and ventricles (bottom)
• The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs from the right atrium
• The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood back to the heart (left atrium) from the lungs
• The aorta carries oxygenated blood away from the heart (left ventricle) to the rest of the body
• The vena cava brings deoxygenated blood into the heart (right atrium) from the rest of the body
• The coronary artieries supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood
• The two circulatory systems are called Pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation
• Pulmonary circulation describes blood that flows to the lungs and back to the heart
• Systemic circulation describes blood that flows throughout the body and back to the heart
• Red blood cells contain haemoglobin that carries oxygen. They have no nucleus and are a bi-concave shape
• An atheroma can lead to a heart attack if the blood starts to clot and blocks the coronary arteries. This prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the heart muscle
• Veins have a thin smooth muscle wall and a large lumen meaning the pressure in veins is low. This is why veins also have valves to prevent backflow
• An atheroma is a build up of fat in the coronary arteries
• Platelets are sticky particles in the blood that help to clot the blood
• Plasma is the liquid part of the blood and it is used for the distribution of heat and the transport of carbon dioxide, soluble food, urea, and hormones
• The function of the capillaries is to carry nutrients and gases, and to also connect the veins and arteries
• The heart is made of cardiac muscle
• You can treat Cardiovascular disease (CVD) by a change in lifestyle, statins or angioplasty
• As the heart muscle contracts and relaxes, the valves open and close. This lets blood flow into the atria and ventricles at alternate times
• Arteries carry blood away from the heart to organs in the body
• Veins carry blood towards the heart
• Capillaries have a 1 cell thick wall so they can diffuse the necessary nutrients and gases to the body's cells rapidly
• Arteries have thick smooth muscle walls to withstand the high pressure of the blood. This also means they have a smaller lumen
• All veins carry deoxygenated blood, however only the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood
• All arteries carry oxygenated blood, however only the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood
• Atheroma's form by an unbalanced diet and a lack of exercise
• The three blood vessels are the capillaries, veins and arteries
• White blood cells are part of the immune system and they DESTROY infection through the blood