Blood Flow Through the Heart

Vocabulary flashcards covering the 12 steps of blood flow through the heart, including key chambers, valves, and vessels.

Superior Vena Cava

The entrance to the right side of the heart that brings deoxygenated blood from the upper body.

Inferior Vena Cava

The entrance to the right side of the heart that brings deoxygenated blood from the lower body.

Right Atrium

The top chamber on the right side of the heart where the superior and inferior vena cavae empty.

Tricuspid Valve

The valve on the right side of the heart that blood moves through after it leaves the right atrium; it is the first valve in the 'try before you buy' mnemonic.

Right Ventricle

The lower chamber (basement) on the right side of the heart that contracts to push blood through the pulmonic valve.

Pulmonic Valve

The valve blood passes through to enter the pulmonary artery; the name is associated with 'pulmonary' for lungs.

Pulmonary Artery

The only artery that carries deoxygenated blood; it sends blood away from the heart to the lungs.

Cardiac Output

The measurement of all the blood being pumped out of the heart in one minute.

Pulmonary Veins

The only veins in the body that carry oxygenated blood; they return blood to the left atrium.

Left Atrium

The top chamber on the left side of the heart that receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins.

Bicuspid Valve

The valve on the left side of the heart that blood passes through after the left atrium; also known as the mitral valve or arterioventricular valve.

Left Ventricle

Known as the 'big mama,' it is the strongest chamber of the heart that pumps blood out to the entire body.

Aortic Valve

The valve blood passes through as it is sent from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Aorta

The largest artery in the human body which distributes blood to the brain, organs, and everywhere in the body.