Yuson, Jasmine Kaye C.

BA Political Science- 3

Zoo Lec MWF 1-2pm

Function of the heart

 Pumps blood
 Oxygenates blood
 Atria
The two hollow chambers at the top of the heart are called the atria. Individually, they
are named the left atrium and the right atrium, based on their position in the heart. The
right atrium collects unoxygenated blood that has returned from the body, while the left
atrium collects oxygenated blood that has returned from the lungs.
 Ventricles
The two hollow chambers at the bottom of the heart, the ventricles, receive blood from the atria.
When the heart contracts, the right ventricle pushes blood into an artery that leads to the lungs; the
blood will be oxygenated before it returns to the heart. The left ventricle pushes blood into the body’s
blood vessels for circulation through the body. Since the left ventricle must be forceful enough to
deliver adequate blood to your entire body, it is the largest and strongest of the four heart chambers.
 Septum
The septum is a thick muscular wall that runs down the middle of the heart. It separates the left
atrium and ventricle from the right atrium and ventricle. Certain heart defects create holes in the
septum, allowing unoxygenated and oxygenated blood to mix together, which ultimately impairs the
heart’s ability to function. These septal defects are typically present at birth and vary in size and
severity. Small holes might never produce symptoms and often require no special treatment. Large
holes, on the other hand, can eventually cause damage to the lungs and lead to heart failure. While
some moderate to large defects can be corrected with medication, others require surgery.
  Valves
Valves separate the various parts of the heart from one another. They allow blood into places it’s
supposed to be and keep it out of places it’s not supposed to be. The mitral valve separates the left
atrium and the left ventricle, while the tricuspid valve separates the right atrium and the right
ventricle. The aortic valve lies between the left ventricle and the aorta, which leads to the body’s
network of blood vessels, and the pulmonary valve lies between the right ventricle and the
pulmonary artery, which leads to the lungs. These valves open and close in response to pressure
changes inside the various parts of the heart.
 Putting It All Together: Right Side
The right atrium fills with unoxygenated blood from the body. When the ventricle is full, the
tricuspid valve opens to allow blood to flow from the atrium into the right ventricle. When the
pressure in the right ventricle gets too high, the tricuspid valve closes to shut off blood flow into the
ventricle. As the heart contracts, the pulmonary valve opens and allows the right ventricle to push
blood into the pulmonary artery and lungs. Once the ventricle is empty, the pulmonary valve closes
to prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricle.
 Putting it All Together: Left Side
The now-oxygenated blood returns from the lungs and enters the left atrium. When the left atrium is
full, the mitral valve opens to allow blood from the left atrium to flow into the left ventricle. Once the
pressure in the left ventricle gets too high, it closes the mitral valve and stops blood flow into the
ventricle. When the heart contracts, the aortic valve opens and the left ventricle pushes blood into the
aorta, which leads to the body’s blood vessels. Once the left ventricle is empty, the aortic valve
closes to prevent the back-flow of blood.