The Heart!

November/December 2014

What do we know about the

heart?
What can you tell me about the human heart?
What does it do? What is its purpose?
Where is it located in the body?
What food or lifestyles are bad for the heart? Good
for the heart?

Home is where the heart is!

From the moment it begins beating until the

moment it stops, the human heart works tirelessly!

Your heart can keep beating even if it separated

from the body because it has its own electrical
impulse!

A kitchen faucet would need to be turned on all the

way for at least 45 years to equal the amount of
blood pumped by the heart in an average lifetime!

Where is your heart?

Location of the heart

The heart is located in the chest, between the
lungs behind the sternum, and above the
diaphragm

RIGHT & LEFT

Hold up your RIGHT HAND!

Hold up your LEFT HAND!

 Why are the left and right sides of the heart

backwards?

What does the red represent?

What does the blue represent?

Chambers of the Heart

Your heart has 4 hollow chambers.

Atria
The two chambers on the top are called the atria.
(Singular = atrium)

The atria receive blood returning to the heart from

either the lungs (oxygenated) or the rest of the
body (deoxygenated).

Atria can be thought of as receiving chambers.

Ventricles
The 2 chambers at the bottom are called the
ventricles.

The ventricles receive blood from the atria.

These are the heart chambers that pump blood out
of the heart.

Ventricles are the primary pumping chambers of

the heart!

Septum
The SEPTUM separates the two sides of the heart,

Pumps
What are pumps?
What is an example of a pump?

Pump
A pump is a device for moving a liquid or gas from
one place to another

Your heart is just a pump (although it is complex

and important!!)

As with other pumps it can become clogged, break

down, and need repair.

With knowledge about how your heart works, you

can decrease your risk of heart disease or other
complications!

How Hard does your Heart

Work?
Use a tennis ball to demonstrate how hard the
heart muscle works. (partner activity)

1. Hold a tennis ball in your hand. Squeeze the tennis

ball tightly
(The force needed to squeeze the ball is similar to the force needed to
squeeze blood out of the heart)

2. Squeeze the ball as hard as you can about 70

times in one minute.
3. How does your hand feel? What does this
demonstrate about the heart muscle?

Valves
What is a valve?

Valves
A valve is a device for regulating the flow of a
liquid or a gas by covering and uncovering
openings.

E.g. faucet, garden hose nozzle

Heart Valves
The blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle
When your ventricles contract, the blood inside is
forced out under lots of PRESSURE.

The blood has two valves, separating each atrium

and ventricle called atrioventricular valves or AV
valves.

Heart Valves
The valves are open when the heart is relaxed and

receiving blood, but snap shut when the ventricles

contract.

This prevents backflow into the atria.

Blood Flow through the

Heart
Oxygen depleted blood enters the body via the

superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava into

the right atrium.

Where does the oxygen depleted come from?

Blood Flow through the

Heart
Oxygen depleted blood comes from the the
body

Blood Flow through the

Heart
The oxygen depleted blood goes from the right
atrium, through the AV valve, and into the right
ventricle.

Blood Flow through the

Heart
The right ventricle then pumps the oxygen-depleted
blood through another valve (pulmonary valve) and
to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.

Why is the oxygen-depleted blood going to the

lungs?

Blood Flow through the

Heart
The oxygen rich blood from the lungs enters the
body via the pulmonary veins and enter the left
atrium.

Blood Flow through the

Heart
The oxygen rich blood goes from the left atrium,
through the AV valve, and into the left ventricle.

Blood Flow through the

Heart
The left ventricle then pumps the oxygen rich blood
through another valve (aortic valve) and to the rest
of the body through the aorta

Video!!
Blood flow through the heart:

Review: