Heart Structure and Function Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is the main function of the heart?

The heart pumps blood around the body to supply cells with oxygen and nutrients.

How many chambers does the human heart have, and what are they called?

The heart has four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle.

What is the job of the atria in the heart?

The atria receive blood coming into the heart and then push it into the ventricles.

What is the job of the ventricles in the heart?

The ventricles pump blood out of the heart to the lungs or the rest of the body.

What does the septum do in the heart?

The septum separates the left and right sides of the heart to keep oxygenated and deoxygenated blood apart.

Why is the wall of the left ventricle thicker than the wall of the right ventricle?

The left ventricle wall is thicker because it must pump blood at high pressure all around the body.

What is the function of the heart valves?

Heart valves stop blood flowing backwards and make sure it flows in one direction.

Name the four main blood vessels connected to the heart.

The four main blood vessels are the vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein and aorta.

What is the role of the vena cava and the aorta?

The vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium, and the aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.

Describe the pathway of blood through the right side of the heart to the lungs.

Blood enters the right atrium from the vena cava, passes through a valve into the right ventricle, then is pumped through a valve into the pulmonary artery, which takes it to the lungs.

What are the coronary arteries and why are they important?

Coronary arteries are blood vessels on the surface of the heart that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients so it can keep beating.