Part 2
- The Human Heart..
Task 3: Draw and label a cross section of human heart
1. The heart is located inside the thoracic cavity. It is covered by a connective tissue called
pericardium. The fluid between the heart and pericardium helps to reduce friction between the
heart and organs adjacent to it.
2. The heart is made up of cardiac muscles and functions to pump and send blood to the whole
body. (* Draw cardiac muscles)
3. Cardiac muscle is myogenic meaning it contracts and relaxes without the need to receive
impulses from the nervous system.
4. The right pulmonary artery sends blood to the right lung whereas the left pulmonary artery
sends blood to the left lung.
5. The oxygenated blood is forced to the lungs while the oxygenated blood is forced to the
arteries of other parts of the body
6. The semilunar valves prevent back flow of blood into the ventricles
7. The bicuspid valve and tricuspid valve ensure that blood flows only in one direction thus,
preventing back flow of blood from the ventricles into the atria.
8. The septum separates the right chambers from the left chambers from the left chambers.
9. The left ventricular wall is thicker as it generates greater pressure to pump blood to other parts
of the body.
The Heartbeat
1. The heartbeat produces blood pressure in the arteries which can be felt as pulse in the arteries
which is closer to the surface of the skin. Both the systolic and diastolic stages form the heartbeat
of the heart.
2. The rate of heartbeat increases when a person carry out vigorous activities.
3. The sino-atrial node ( SAN )
a. Located in the right atrial wall, near the entrance of the anterior vena cava
b. Acts as a pacemaker which initiates the heartbeat.
c. SAN generates a wave of excitatory impulses which spread to two atria, causing them to
contract simultaneously.
d. If the SAN fails to function , needs an artificial pacemaker which will generate electrical
impulses which sent to the heart through wires.
4. The sequence of events which lead to the heartbeat :
a. Sinoatrial node generates impulses.
b. Impulses spread to the right and left atria.
c. Both the atria contract simultaneously.
d. Blood is forced from the atria into the ventricles.
Task 4: Draw schematic diagrams of the circulatory system of fish, amphibians and humans
2. Blood is confined to the heart and blood vessels in a closed circulatory system whereas vessels
are absent in an opened circulatory system. Blood is pumped directly into the body cavity in the
opened circulatory system.
3. Deoxygenated blood in the right ventricle of the human heart is pumped into the arteries of the
lungs in the pulmonary circulatory system.
4. Oxygenated blood in the left ventricle is pumped into arteries of other parts of the body in the
systemic circulatory system.
embolus. The embolus may be trapped in a small artery where it blocks the blood flow. This
condition is called embolism.
5. The blocked coronary artery cuts off the oxygen and nutrients supply to the heart muscles,
hence causes heart attack.