4.1: The Heart
This lab definitely taught me the functions of the heart as well as the names of the specific regions of the heart. The picture to the left is a diagram labeling all of the regions of the heart, which is what I had to learn for our tests. Also, knowing the regions of the heart has helped me understand why blood flows the way it does and why is it oxygenated/deoxygenated in specific regions.
In the beginning of the semester, I did not know the functions of the heart to this degree. I only knew it was a vital organ that pumped blood throughout the body. No heart beat - no life. Now, I know why if there's no heart beat, there's no life. I know what causes the blood to flow and how the heart pumps. I know all the names of the areas of the heart and with each lab I learn something new about the heart.
In the beginning of the semester, I did not know the functions of the heart to this degree. I only knew it was a vital organ that pumped blood throughout the body. No heart beat - no life. Now, I know why if there's no heart beat, there's no life. I know what causes the blood to flow and how the heart pumps. I know all the names of the areas of the heart and with each lab I learn something new about the heart.
Strengths
My strengths from this lab was naming the areas. That was easy memorization for me. Root words also helped me. (For example: Pulmonary Artery helped me because I know pulmonary means lungs, so it must be on the right side of the heart, etc.) |
Weaknesses
My weaknesses were understand where oxygenated/deoxygenated blood went through the heart and why. Also, learning the proper direction of blood flow wasn't the easiest for me to understand since blood flows throughout the heart in different directions. It took me a while of studying the heart for me to finally understand proper direction of blood flow. |
Functions of the Heart
Aorta: the body's largest artery. Takes oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
Pulmonary Artery: carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Oxygenated blood carrying oxygen
Deoxygenated blood carrying little or oxygen
Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body
Pulmonary Vein: Takes oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium
Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta
Right Ventricle: pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery
Arteries: carry blood AWAY from the heart
Veins carry blood TOWARDS the heart
Bicuspid Valve: valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
Tricuspid Valve: valve between the right atrium an the right ventricle.
Vena Cava: the largest vein in the body, it carries blood from the body back to the heart.
Main structures
- Pulmonary Artery, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta, inferior/superior vena cava, right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve, back to the pulmonary artery.
Aorta: the body's largest artery. Takes oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
Pulmonary Artery: carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Oxygenated blood carrying oxygen
Deoxygenated blood carrying little or oxygen
Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body
Pulmonary Vein: Takes oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium
Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta
Right Ventricle: pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery
Arteries: carry blood AWAY from the heart
Veins carry blood TOWARDS the heart
Bicuspid Valve: valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
Tricuspid Valve: valve between the right atrium an the right ventricle.
Vena Cava: the largest vein in the body, it carries blood from the body back to the heart.
Main structures
- Pulmonary Artery, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta, inferior/superior vena cava, right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve, back to the pulmonary artery.