Parts of the Heart and its Functions
Superior vena cava
Through this, the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the veins of the body
The superior vena cava delivers blood from the head and chest area to the heart
Right pulmonary artery
Carry blood to the lungs, where oxygen is picked up and carbon dioxide is unloaded.
Delivers deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
Pumps blood away from the heart. However, unlike most arteries, which carry blood with a
relatively high oxygen content, the pulmonary artery transports blood whose oxygen content is
relatively low. Blood with little oxygen content is delivered to the lungs via the pulmonary artery
Right atrium
Superior atria are primarily receiving chambers
Assist with filling the ventricles
Blood flows into the atria under low pressure from the veins of the body and continues on to fill
the ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the inferior and superior vena cava.
Right pulmonary veins
Through this, oxygen-rich blood drains from the lungs and is returned to the left side of the
heart
Responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart.
This differentiates the pulmonary veins from other veins in the body, which are used to carry
deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body back to the heart.
The right pulmonary veins pass behind the right atrium and another large blood vessel known as
the superior vena cava
Fossa ovalis
A remnant which is visible in the right atrium
Can remain patent and allow shunting between the right and left atria; in cases of an open
communication between the left and right side, the foramen ovale valve typically closes and
prevents shunting: a paradoxical right to left shunt can occur in these cases if right atrial
pressures are elevated
Right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid valve)
Prevent backflow into the atria when the ventricles contract
Has three cusps
Right ventricle
Discharging chambers, or actual pumps of the heart. When they contract, blood is propelled out
of the heart and into circulation.
Forms most of the heart's anterior surface
Parts of the Heart and its Functions
Chordae tendineae
Tiny white cords, literally "tendinous cords"
Anchor the cusps to the walls of the ventricles.
Inferior vena cava
Through this, the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the veins of the body
Carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart
Aorta
Oxygen-rich blood returned to the left atrium flows into the left ventricle and is pumped out
into the aorta, from which the systemic arteries branch to supply essentially all body tissues.
It carries oxygen-filled blood from the heart to different organs in the body
Left pulmonary artery
Carry blood to the lungs, where oxygen is picked up and carbon dioxide is unloaded
Delivers deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
Pumps blood away from the heart. However, unlike most arteries, which carry blood with a
relatively high oxygen content, the pulmonary artery transports blood whose oxygen content is
relatively low. Blood with little oxygen content is delivered to the lungs via the pulmonary
artery.
Left atrium
Superior atria are primarily receiving chambers
Assist with filling the ventricles
Blood flows into the atria under low pressure from the veins of the body and continues on to fill
the ventricles.
Act as a holding chamber for blood returning from the lungs and to act as a pump to transport
blood to other areas of the heart
Left pulmonary veins
Through this, oxygen-rich blood drains from the lungs and is returned to the left side of the
heart
Responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart.
This differentiates the pulmonary veins from other veins in the body, which are used to carry
deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body back to the heart
The left pulmonary veins connect with the left lung, and the lungs themselves are filled with
hollow air sacs called alveoli.
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Guards the bases of the two large arteries leaving the ventricular chambers.
Guards the orifice between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
Parts of the Heart and its Functions
Left atrioventricular valve (bicuspid valve)
Prevent backflow into the atria when the ventricles contract
Consists of two flaps, or cusps, of endocardium
Aortic semilunar valve
Guards the bases of the two large arteries leaving the ventricular chambers.
Protects the orifice between the left ventricle and the aorta
Left ventricle
Discharging chambers, or actual pumps of the heart. When they contract, blood is propelled out
of the heart and into circulation
Forms heart's apex
Interventricular septum
Divides the ventricles
The stout wall that separates the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart from one another.
Myocardium
Consists of think bundles of cardiac muscle twisted and whorled into ring-like arrangements.
Layer that actually contracts.
Muscular middle layer of the wall of the heart. It is composed of spontaneously contracting
cardiac muscle fibers which allow the heart to contract.
Visceral pericardium (epicardium)
Visceral layer of the serous pericardium
Part of the heart wall
Innermost layer of pericardium and the outermost layer of the heart wall.
Protect the inner heart layers and also assists in the production of pericardial fluid
