the heart

• what does diastole mean?

  Relaxation of the heart muscle.
• what does systole mean?

  Contraction of the heart muscles
• stages of cardiac cycle?


  diastole , atrial systole and ventricular systole
• what happens in diastole?

  relaxation of the heart

  blood enters atria via vena cava and pulmonary vein

  atrial pressure rises
• what happens in atrial systole?

  atrial walls contract increasing pressure

  atrioventricular valves open + blood flows into ventricles
• what happens in ventricular systole?

  ventricular muscles contract increasing pressure more than in the atria

  atrioventricular valves close semi-lunar open

  blood pushed into arteries
• what is cardiac output?

  the amount of blood that leaves the ventricle in a minute
• where are the semi-lunar valves?

  aorta and pulmonary artery
• where are the atrioventricular valves?

  between atrium and ventricles
• when do valves open?


  when the pressure is higher behind them
• what are the types of blood vessels?

  arteries, veins, capillaries and arterioles
• where do arteries carry blood?

  away from the heart
• features of arteries?


  Elasticity, thick muscular walls, and carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
• where do veins carry blood?

  towards the heart
• features of veins?


  have valves , little muscle , wide lumen
• capillary features?


  used for substance exchange , one cell thick , can have networks
• parts of the left side of the heart?

  aorta , pulmonary vein , left atrium , atrioventricular valve , cords , left ventricle , semi-lunar valves ,
• parts of the right side of the heart?

  pulmonary artery , inferior and superior vena cava , right atrium , atrioventricular valve , cords , right ventricle , semi-lunar valves
• what's the difference between the ventricles?

  the left ventricle has a thicker wall because it contracts more to pump blood all over the body