The Features, Structures and Functions of the Heart
Feature
Structure
Function
Atria (singular atrium) thin walled no valves rough pectinate muscles sinus node (impulse generating tissue) interatrial septum
Right atrium:
Receives deoxygenated blood returning to the heart from the vena cava and pumps it to the right ventricle.
Left atrium:
Receives oxygenated blood returning to the heart from the pulmonary veins and pumps it to the left ventricle.
Ventricles
thicker walls (than atria), the left is thicker than the right as blood must be pumped all around the body tendinous chords papillary muscles interventricular septum (separates ventricles)
Right ventricle:
Receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the pulmonary artery in which it is transported to the lungs.
Left ventricle:
Receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the aorta which distributes it around the rest of the body.
Atrioventricular valves anchored to the walls by chord tendinae composed of endocardium (epithelial) and connective tissue flap-like structures located between the atria and ventricles
Keeps the valves from prolapsing into the atria when they close and prevents back flow of blood as it is pumped from the atria to the ventricles.
Tendinous cords cord-like tendons
80% collagen (structural protein) and 20% elastin and endothelial cells
Connects the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart. Close and open the valves and make sure they do not collapse into the atria.
Septum
thick and muscular upper section is thinner and more fibrous slanted backwards and to the right and curves to fit the oval shape of the ventricle
Separates the left ventricle from the right ventricle to prevent oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing.
Semilunar valves consists of three crescent shaped cusps (flaps of tissue) do not have tendinous chords
Prevents blood flowing back intro the ventricles after contraction, links the ventricles to the pulmonary artery and aorta.
Aorta
a tube
Structure
Function
Atria (singular atrium) thin walled no valves rough pectinate muscles sinus node (impulse generating tissue) interatrial septum
Right atrium:
Receives deoxygenated blood returning to the heart from the vena cava and pumps it to the right ventricle.
Left atrium:
Receives oxygenated blood returning to the heart from the pulmonary veins and pumps it to the left ventricle.
Ventricles
thicker walls (than atria), the left is thicker than the right as blood must be pumped all around the body tendinous chords papillary muscles interventricular septum (separates ventricles)
Right ventricle:
Receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the pulmonary artery in which it is transported to the lungs.
Left ventricle:
Receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the aorta which distributes it around the rest of the body.
Atrioventricular valves anchored to the walls by chord tendinae composed of endocardium (epithelial) and connective tissue flap-like structures located between the atria and ventricles
Keeps the valves from prolapsing into the atria when they close and prevents back flow of blood as it is pumped from the atria to the ventricles.
Tendinous cords cord-like tendons
80% collagen (structural protein) and 20% elastin and endothelial cells
Connects the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart. Close and open the valves and make sure they do not collapse into the atria.
Septum
thick and muscular upper section is thinner and more fibrous slanted backwards and to the right and curves to fit the oval shape of the ventricle
Separates the left ventricle from the right ventricle to prevent oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing.
Semilunar valves consists of three crescent shaped cusps (flaps of tissue) do not have tendinous chords
Prevents blood flowing back intro the ventricles after contraction, links the ventricles to the pulmonary artery and aorta.
Aorta
a tube