G D GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL

DAKSHINESWAR
SESSION: 2020-21
CLASS – VII
Chapter- Transport in Animals and
plants Topic- Human Heart

 Evolution noticed in heart of different group of animals

Location and protection of Human Heart

The heart is an organ which pumps blood to all the parts of our body through a network of tubescalled blood
vessels. The heart works like a pump non-stop throughout our life.
Our heart is located in the chest cavity slightly towards the left side.
The heart lies between the two lungs and above the diaphragm. It is well protected by thebones that form
thoracic cage.
The heart is covered by a two- layered sac known as pericardium. The inner layer, called visceral layer of
pericardium invests the heart very closely. And an outer layer is pericardium. In-between these two layers of
pericardium is present a narrow space known as pericardial cavity. It is full of aself-secreted fluid called
pericardial fluid.

Structure of human heart

 The size of our heart is roughly equal to our fist.

 The heart is made of special muscle called cardiac muscle. The heart is hollow inside.
 The heart has four compartments called chambers. The upper two chambers of heart arecalled
atria (singular of atria is atrium), and the lower two chambers of heart are called ventricles.

1
 1. Atria (singular atrium) or auricles :
The atria are a pair of thin-walled chambers present towards the base of the human heart. They are known as
right and left atrium or auricle according to their position. The auricles are very thinwalled chambers as they
are to push the blood into ventricles present just below them.

2. Ventricles
The ventricles are a pair of very thick walled chambers. They are present towards the apex and areknown as
right and left ventricles. The ventricles are broad at the upper end but taper towards apex.

 On the left side of the heart are left atrium and left ventricle. On the right side of the heartare right
atrium and right ventricle.

 The top side of left atrium is connected to pulmonary vein which brings oxygenated bloodinto it
from the lungs. The lower side of left atrium is connected to left ventricle. Oxygenated blood from
left atrium goes into left ventricle.

 The other side of left ventricle is connected to main artery (called aorta). The left ventricle pumps
oxygenated blood into main artery for taking it to all the body organs (except lungs)

2
  The top side of right atrium is connected to main vein (called vena cava) which brings
deoxygenated blood into it from all the body organs (except lungs).The lower side of rightatrium is
connected to right ventricle.

 Deoxygenated blood from right atrium goes into right ventricle. The other side of right ventricle is
connected to pulmonary artery. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated bloodinto pulmonary
artery for taking it to lungs.

 The left side of heart is completely separated from its right side by means of a partition wallcalled
septum which is made of thick muscle. The partition wall (or septum) in the heart prevents the
mixing of oxygenated blood on its left side with the deoxygenated blood on its right side. Inter
auricular and inter ventricular septum is present in human heart.

 A sheath of tissue called ‘pericardium’ protects the heart. All the atria and ventricles of theheart
contract and relax (expand) at appropriate times and make the heart behave like a pump.

 The heart is a double pump. The left side of heart and right side of heart act as two separate
pumps. The left side of heart acts as one pump which pumps oxygenated blood into the whole body
(except the lungs). The right side of heart acts as another pump whichpumps deoxygenated blood
only to the lungs.

 The left side of heart has oxygen rich blood (oxygenated blood) whereas the right side of heart has
carbon dioxide rich blood (deoxygenated blood). It is necessary to keep the oxygen rich blood
separate so that it may supply good amount of oxygen to the body cellsfor respiration and release of
energy. 

Function of Heart
The heart performs the following important functions:
 The primary function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body.
 It supplies oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removes carbon dioxide and wastesfrom the
blood.
 It also helps to maintain adequate blood pressure throughout the body.