Lesson 4.1 Study Guide

valve

a body structure that temporarily closes a passage or orifice, or permits the movement of a fluid in only one direction.

mitral valve

a valve in the heart that guards the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle; prevents the blood in the ventricle from returning to the atrium. alternative name is bicuspid valve.

tricuspid valve

a valve that is situated at the opening of the right atrium of the heart into the right ventricle and that resembles the mitral valve in structure but consists of three triangular membranous flaps.

inferior vena cava

a vein that is the largest vein in the human body and returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from bodily parts below the diaphragm.

superior vena cava

a vein that is the second largest vein in the human body and returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from the upper half of the body.

vein

a vessel that returns blood to the heart.

atrium

an anatomical cavity or passage; especially a chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into a ventricle or ventricles.

tissue

an integrated group of cells with a common function, structure, or both.

artery

any of the tubular branching muscular and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart throughout the body.

explain the difference between veins and arteries.

arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart throughout the body and veins carry oxygen-poor blood throughout the body to the heart.

vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called (?), while (?) carry blood toward the heart.

arteries; veins.

compare the structure of the tricuspid valve with that of the pulmonary valve.

both valves have three flaps and are located in the right side of the heart.

your arteries carry blood throughout the body and deposit it in all the tissues in beds of tiny, tiny vessels (the smallest in the body). what are the tiniest, tiniest vessels called?

capillaries.

how many chambers are found in the mammalian heart? list these chambers.

four. right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.

define each term and then explain how each is useful in the understanding the hearts anatomy: pulmonary: inferior: superior:

pulmonary: relating to the lungs; the pulmonary arteries in the heart lead to the lungs. inferior: lower in position; the inferior vena cava is located at the bottom of the heart. superior: higher in position; the superior vena cava is located at the bottom of the heart.

which artery is the largest and why?

the aorta is the largest artery because it has to pump blood throughout the entire body.

what is the largest artery in the body?

the aorta.

the left pulmonary artery can also be called your left coronary artery. what would happen if this was blocked by a blood clot?

the artery could not transport the oxygen-poor blood back to the left lung to be oxygenated leading to lack of oxygen.

systemic circulation

the branch of the circulatory system that supplies all body organs and then returns oxygen-poor blood to the right atrium via the veins.

what are the two largest veins in the body and what's the main difference between them?

the inferior and superior vena cavas. the superior is located at the top of the heart and the inferior is located at the bottom of the heart.

how can you tell which side of the heart is the ventral surface (the surface closer to your chest)?

the inter-ventricular sulcus

aorta

the large arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries throughout the body.

which chambers are the pumping chambers of the heart?

the left atrium and the left ventricle.

what is the other name for the bicuspid valve?

the mitral valve.

pulmonary circulation

the passage of venous blood from the right atrium of the heart through the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries to the lungs where it is oxygenated and its returned via the pulmonary veins to enter the left atrium and participate in systemic circulation.

which chambers are the receiving chambers of the heart?

the right atrium and the right ventricle.

aortic valve

the semilunar valve separating the aorta from the left ventricle that prevents blood from flowing back into the left ventricle.

cell

the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently.

cardiovascular system

the transport system of the body responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

describe the action of the tricuspid valve when the ventricle is full.

the valve prevents the blood in the ventricle from returning to the atrium.

how do the walls of the atria compare with the walls of the ventricles and why are they different?

the walls of the ventricles are much thicker than the walls of the atria because the ventricles have to pump blood at greater pressure.

what's the function of the pulmonary and aortic valves?

to allow blood to exit the heart.

what's the function of the mitral and tricuspid valves?

to prevent the backflow of blood.

what is the purpose of heart valves?

to prevent the backwards flow of blood.

name and compare the heart valves found between the upper and lower chambers of the right and left sides of the heart.

tricuspid valve - between the right atrium and right ventricle. allows blood from right atrium into right ventricle. pulmonary valve - between right ventricle and pulmonary artery. allows blood from right ventricle into pulmonary artery. mitral valve - between left atrium and left ventricle. allows blood from left atrium into left ventricle. aortic valve - between left ventricle and aorta. allows blood from left ventricle into aorta.