The Anatomy of the Human Heart + Flow of Blood

Anatomy unit 5

Right Atrium

Upper right chamber that receives deoxygenated blood from the body

Left Atrium

Upper left chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

Right Ventricle

Lower right chamber that pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs

Left Ventricle

Lower left chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to the body

Superior Vena Cava

Large vein bringing deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium

Inferior Vena Cava

Large vein bringing deoxygenated blood from lower body to right atrium

Pulmonary Artery

Vessel carrying deoxygenated blood from right ventricle to lungs

Pulmonary Vein

Vessel carrying oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium

Tricuspid Valve

Valve between right atrium and right ventricle

Bicuspid Valve (Mitral Valve)

Valve between left atrium and left ventricle

Aorta

Largest artery carrying oxygenated blood from left ventricle to body

Arteries

Blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart

Pulmonary Valve

Valve between right ventricle and pulmonary artery

Aortic Valve

Valve between left ventricle and aorta

Epicardium

Outer layer of the heart wall

Myocardium

Thick muscular middle layer of the heart wall

Endocardium

Inner lining of the heart

Coronary Arteries

Arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle

Coronary Veins

Veins that remove deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle

Interatrial Septum

Wall separating right and left atria

Interventricular Septum

Wall separating right and left ventricles

Auricles

Ear‑like flaps on the atria that increase volume

Pulmonary Trunk

Main vessel leaving right ventricle before splitting into pulmonary arteries

Chordae Tendineae

Tendon-like cords connecting valves to papillary muscles

Papillary Muscles

Muscles that anchor chordae tendineae and help valves function

What vessel brings deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart?

Superior vena cava

What vessel brings deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart?

Inferior vena cava

Which chamber receives deoxygenated blood first?

Right atrium

Which chamber pumps blood to the lungs?

Right ventricle

Which chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?

Left atrium

Which chamber pumps oxygenated blood to the body?

Left ventricle

Which vessel carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs?

Pulmonary artery

Which vessel carries blood from the lungs to the left atrium?

Pulmonary vein

Which valve is between the right atrium and right ventricle?

Tricuspid valve

Which valve is between the left atrium and left ventricle?

Bicuspid (mitral) valve

Which valve prevents backflow into the right ventricle?

Pulmonary valve

Which valve prevents backflow into the left ventricle?

Aortic valve

Which artery is the largest in the body?

Aorta

Which side of the heart is thicker?

Left ventricle

Why is the left ventricle thicker?

It pumps blood to the entire body

What separates the two atria?

Interatrial septum

What separates the two ventricles?

Interventricular septum

What vessels supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle?

Coronary arteries

What vessels remove deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle?

Coronary veins

What are the ear-like flaps on the atria called?

Auricles

What structure prevents valves from flipping backward?

Chordae tendineae

What muscles anchor the chordae tendineae?

Papillary muscles

What color represents deoxygenated blood in diagrams?

Blue

What color represents oxygenated blood in diagrams?

Red

What is the path of blood starting at the body?

Body → SVC/IVC → Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Bicuspid valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body