Circulation Notes 2B - The Heart

The human circulatory system as a double circulatory system
 Blood rich in oxygen is called Oxygenated blood.

 Blood rich in carbon dioxide is called deoxygenated blood
 When oxygenated blood leaves the heart, it is pumped to all the cells in the body, these cells take the
oxygen to use in respiration and release carbon dioxide. The blood is now considered deoxygenated
because it is without oxygen.
 Deoxygenated blood flows from the cells in the body back to the heart.
 The heart pumps this deoxygenated blood to the lungs where it becomes oxygenated again (in the
lungs the carbon dioxide is removed and exhaled and the oxygen that came in now enters the blood).
The now oxygenated blood flows back to the heart. The heart then pumps the oxygenated blood to
the cells of the body and the process continues.
 It is called double circulation because blood flows to the heart twice in one circulation around the
body.
 The pulmonary circulation or circuit, blood passes from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
again.
 In the systematic circulation or circuit, blood passes from the heart to the rest of the body and back to
the heart again.
 This double system has the advantage that the blood to the rest of the body can be pumped by the
heart at a much higher pressure than would otherwise be the case. This ensures that oxygenated blood
reaches all parts of the body.
 SUMMARY:
1. Deoxygenated blood comes to the heart from the rest of the body.
2. The heart pumps this to the lungs to become oxygenated.
3. Oxygenated blood comes to the heart from the lungs.
4. The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
THE HEART
STRUCTURE OF THE HEART
 The pumping action of the heart maintains a constant circulation of blood around the body.
 The heart is composed of cardiac muscle, a muscle that never get tired.
 The heart is divided into two sides – left and right (this is always opposite to your left and right hand
when looking at it on paper). The right side deals with deoxygenated blood and the left side deals with
oxygenated blood. The left and right side is separated by septum.
 Each side of the heart is divided into two sections – an upper section and a lower section. The upper
sections are also called the atria (singular atrium) and the lower sections are called the ventricles. The
ventricles are significantly thicker than the atria because they pump blood out of the heart. The left
ventricle however is thicker than the right because it pumps blood to the whole body whereas the
right ventricle only pumps to the lungs.
 There are valves present between the atrium and ventricle and in the pulmonary artery and aorta to
prevent the back flow of blood.

BLOOD FLOW THROUGH THE HEART
1. Deoxygenated blood enter the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava.
2. The right atrium fills and blood is pushed to the right ventricle.
3. The right ventricle contracts and pushes blood out the heart via the pulmonary artery. At the same
time the tricuspid valve closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the atrium.
4. Deoxygenated blood leaves the heart through the pulmonary artery and goes to the lungs for gaseous
exchange. Blood becomes oxygenated.
5. Oxygenated blood leaves the lungs and enters the heart through the pulmonary vein. (pulmonary vein
has two branches – one coming from the each lung)
6. Oxygenated blood enters the left atrium. When the atrium fills the blood flows into ventricles.
7. The ventricles then contract and push the blood out of the heart via the aorta. At this point in time the
tricuspid or mitral valve closes. (The aorta branches into two – one leading to the head called the
carotid artery and one leading to the rest of the body)
8. The se valves present in the pulmonary artery and aorta prevents blood from flowing back down into
the ventricle.
Contraction and Relaxation of the heart muscle
The heart continuously contracts and relaxes throughout your lifetime.
When the heart is relaxed it called Diastole. During diastole:
 Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium
 Oxygenated blood enters the left atrium
When the heart contracts it is called Systole. During systole:
 The atria contracts forcing blood into the ventricles.
 When the ventricles fill, they contract forcing blood out of the heart.
It is important to understand that the left side and right side of the heart operate simultaneously and not
separate.
The heartbeat is two sounds (lub dub) made by the closing of the tricuspid and mitral valves and the valves in
the pulmonary artery and aorta.

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The human circulatory system as a double circulatory system

 Blood rich in oxygen is called Oxygenated blood.

oxygenated blood. The left and right side is separated by septum.

right ventricle only pumps to the lungs.

prevent the back flow of blood.

exchange. Blood becomes oxygenated.

has two branches – one coming from the each lung)

carotid artery and one leading to the rest of the body)

Contraction and Relaxation of the heart muscle

The heart continuously contracts and relaxes throughout your lifetime.

When the heart is relaxed it called Diastole. During diastole:

 Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium

 Oxygenated blood enters the left atrium

When the heart contracts it is called Systole. During systole:

 The atria contracts forcing blood into the ventricles.

the pulmonary artery and aorta.

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