Heart
Heart Objectives
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Describe the structure of the heart, including the chambers, coronary vessels, and cardiac cells.
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Explain what occurs in heart diastole (relaxation) and systole (contraction), including the part we experience as the “heart beat.”
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Chart the flow of blood through the heart, including the major vessels feeding into and out of the heart and the changing amounts of oxygen (high or low).
We’ll start exploration of the cardiovascular system with a brief explanation of why we are not calling it “the” circulatory system.
We’re introducing the heart on this page, and then will follow with vessels and blood. This video introduces heart basics, and then we’ll add more depth.
Next we will use models for a closer look at heart anatomy.
Check your knowledge:
The right side of the heart sends blood to the _____ to pick up _____ and drop off _____.
Let’s take a walk through the heart, following movement of blood to the lungs, back to the heart, and then out to the rest of the body.
It may be helpful to take detailed notes because you will be modeling this process in this guide’s media piece.
Are you feeling comfortable with basic heart structures and the flow of blood through the heart? Try labeling the following on this poster: right & left atrium, right & left ventricle; superior & inferior vena cava, ascending & descending aorta, pulmonary artery & pulmonary vein, oxygenated & deoxygenated blood, heart valves.
This illustration shows some of the heart structures and arrows to indicate blood flow, but a static image like this may be challenging to study.
For this guide’s media piece, you will be creating your own model that teaches about heart anatomy and circulation of blood through the heart.
Start Your 3A Media Assignment here
Heart Model
In this media piece you are building a model of the heart that teaches basic heart anatomy and shows how blood circulates through the heart.
Your model should include: oxygenated blood, deoxygenated blood, various vessels (vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, aorta), lungs, and heart (all four chambers, valves).
You model could be three-dimensional, a digital animation, a drawing, puzzle pieces, a poster, a clay model, or other creative representation.
You are turning in:
Evidence of the model you have constructed, including information on how it functions. This could include a video showing the model, a series of photos, a photo and detailed description, or other representation. If the assignment file is very large, like a long video, you may want to host it on a website to reduce upload time. Your model should demonstrate basic heart anatomy and show how blood circulates through the heart.
You can involve family members or housemates in constructing and/or demonstrating the model, if desired. Be creative and have fun creating your model. This could be an excellent piece to add to your final portfolio.
Not every model works, but it can still teach the concepts. This shows the construction and demonstration of a “working” model of blood circulation through the heart.
There are additional examples of possible heart models on this guide’s resource page.
The next section introduces the various blood vessels that transport blood around the body.
Check your knowledge. Can you:
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describe the structure of the heart, including the chambers, coronary vessels, and cardiac cells?
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explain what occurs in heart diastole (relaxation) and systole (contraction), including the part we experience as the “heart beat?”
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chart the flow of blood through the heart, including the major vessels feeding into and out of the heart and the changing amounts of oxygen (high or low)?
Go back to the Cardiovascular System Guide Overview
Go forward to the Vessels Page
Back to Module 3
This week’s overview
This Guide
3A: Cardiovascular System
Products Information
3A: Quiz & Media
