Basic Heart Function

The basic function of the heart is to pump blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, through blood vessels called arteries to the body. The oxygen is used by the body's tissues, and the veins carry the blood, now low in oxygen, back to the heart.

There are two sides to the heart, each of which acts as a separate pump. The two sides are further divided into two chambers, giving four chambers in total. The upper chambers, the atria, collect blood, and the lower chambers, the ventricles, contract to pump the blood out.

The right side of the heart receives blood, low in oxygen, from the veins throughout the body and pumps this blood to the lungs to collect more oxygen.

The left side of the heart receives blood, rich in oxygen, from the lungs and pumps this blood around the body, through arteries to the tissues in need of oxygen.

In order to reach all the different organs and muscles throughout the body, blood has to be pumped at high pressure. To do this, the heart has to be very strong. However, to keep it working hard all the time, the heart needs a very good blood supply and this is provided by the coronary arteries and their branches.

Basic Heart Function

The basic function of the heart is to pump blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, through blood vessels called arteries to the body. The oxygen is used by the body's tissues, and the veins carry the blood, now low in oxygen, back to the heart.

There are two sides to the heart, each of which acts as a separate pump. The two sides are further divided into two chambers, giving four chambers in total. The upper chambers, the atria, collect blood, and the lower chambers, the ventricles, contract to pump the blood out.

The right side of the heart receives blood, low in oxygen, from the veins throughout the body and pumps this blood to the lungs to collect more oxygen.

The left side of the heart receives blood, rich in oxygen, from the lungs and pumps this blood around the body, through arteries to the tissues in need of oxygen.

In order to reach all the different organs and muscles throughout the body, blood has to be pumped at high pressure. To do this, the heart has to be very strong. However, to keep it working hard all the time, the heart needs a very good blood supply and this is provided by the coronary arteries and their branches.

Name: ______Per. ______

ANATOMY and BLOOD FLOW in the HEART

  1. Color the blood coming from the BODY to the lungs BLUE.
  2. Color the blood coming from the LUNGS and to the body RED.
  3. Label each of the parts of the heart:

Right AtriumLeft AtriumRight Ventricle Left Ventricle Valve (4)Pulmonary ArteriesPulmonary Veins Vena Cava (Superior and Inferior) Aorta

Name: ______Per. ______

ANATOMY and BLOOD FLOW in the HEART

  1. Color the blood coming from the BODY to the lungs BLUE.
  2. Color the blood coming from the LUNGS and to the body RED.
  3. Label each of the parts of the heart:

Right AtriumLeft AtriumRight Ventricle Left Ventricle Valve (4) Pulmonary ArteriesPulmonary Veins Vena Cava (Superior and Inferior) Aorta