The Human Heart
Structures & Functions
*Note…
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Words highlighted in blue or red
indicate the oxygenation of the blood
flow through that structure.
RED=oxygenated blood
BLUE=deoxygenated blood
L side heart=oxygenated blood
R side heart=deoxygenated blood
Heart
Functions to pump blood to all parts of
the body
Muscle tissue = myocardium
Size of a closed fist
5” long and 3.5” wide
Weighs about 12-13 oz
Heart
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Located in the Thoracic Cavity between
the lungs, in front of the thoracic
vertebrae and above the diaphram.
Lies centrally located, but the apex is
slightly to the left midline.
Apex
Structures
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Pericardium
Myocardium
Endocardium
Ventricular Septum
4 chambers: R & L atria
R & L ventricles
Heart
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Structure Pericardium: double layer of
fibrous tissue (outer layer)
 Myocardium: cardiac muscle
tissue (middle layer)
 Endocardium: smooth muscle
tissue lining the interior
Structures leading to and from
the heart
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Superior & Inferior Vena Cava:
large veins which brings deoxygenated
blood to the R atrium from all parts of
the body.
Pulmonary Artery: takes blood away
from the R ventricle to the to the lungs
for oxygen.
Structures leading to and from
the heart…cont’
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Pulmonary veins: which bring
oxygenated blood to the heart from the
lungs.
Aorta: takes blood away from the
L ventricle to the rest of the body.
Valves of the Heart
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Tricuspid Valve: structure that is
positioned between the R atrium and R
ventricle. It has this name because
there are 3 cusps (points) of
attachment. It allows blood to flow from
the R atrium into the R ventricle, but
not in the opposite direction.
Valves of the Heart…cont’
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Mitral Valve: located between the L
atrium and L ventricle. Blood flows
from the L atrium to the L ventricle,
while backflow from the ventricle to
the atrium is prevented.
Closing of the valves produces heart
sounds “lubb-dubb”
Valves of the Heart…cont’
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Semilunar Valves
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Aortic Semilunar Valve: is at the orafice of
the aorta. This valve permits blood flow
out of the L ventricle to the aorta, but not
backwards into the L ventricle.
Pulmonary Semilunar Valve: is found at
the orafice of the pulmonary artery. It lets
blood flow from the R ventticle into the
pulmonary artery, and then into the lungs.
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INSIDE
CHAMBER
Labeled Structures
Superior Vena Cava
Aorta
Pulmonary Artery
R Atrium
L Atrium
Inferior Vena Cava
I
R Ventricle
L Ventricle
Ventricular Septum
Valves of the Heart
Tricuspid Valve
Pulmonary
Semilunar Valve
Mitral Valve
Aortic
Semilunar Valve
Summary
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R & L Atria
R & L Ventricle
Pulmonary Artery
Aorta
Mitral Valve
Tricuspid Valve
Superior & Inferior
Vena Cava
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Pulmonary
Semilunar Valve
Aortic Semilunar
Valve
Ventricular Septum
*R side heart =
deoxygenated blood
*L side heart =
oxygenated blood