Circulation of Blood through the Human Heart

Vocabulary-style flashcards detailing the anatomical structures and pathway of blood flow through the four-chambered human heart.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC)

A large vessel that returns deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC)

A large vessel that returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Right Atrium

The heart chamber that receives deoxygenated blood from the body tissues via the SVC and IVC.

Tricuspid Valve (TV)

The valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Right Ventricle (RV)

The heart chamber that pumps deoxygenated blood toward the lungs.

Pulmonary Valve (PV)

The valve through which blood passes to enter the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle.

Pulmonary Artery (PA)

The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Lungs

The site where blood is oxygenated before returning to the heart.

Pulmonary Vein (PV)

The vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium.

Left Atrium

The heart chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

Mitral Valve (MV)

The valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Left Ventricle

The thicker heart chamber that pumps oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body.

Aortic Valve (AV)

The valve through which blood flows from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Aorta

The main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body tissues and the rest of the body.