The Structure of the Heart

The Vena Cava

Blood from the body that

has had its oxygen
removed (deoxygenated
blood) is returned to the
heart via the large veins
called Vena Cava
Right Atrium

Blood that is brought

back to the heart arrives
at the right atrium.
Tricuspid Valve
The Tricuspid Valve has 3
cups and blood flows
through this from the
Right Atrium into the
Right Ventricle. As the
Right Ventricle contracts,
this valve closes to
prevent the blood being
pumped back into the
atrium.
Right Ventricle

Blood is pumped from

the right ventricle
through the pulmonary
arteries to the lungs to
be oxygenated.
Pulmonary Arteries

Blood leaves the Right

Ventricle via the
Pulmonary Arteries.
These are the only
arteries in the body that
carry deoxygenated
blood.
Pulmonary Valve

This Semi-lunar (half

moon) valve, stops
blood that is being
pumped to the lungs
from flowing back into
the heart.
Pulmonary Veins

Blood enters the left

atrium via the Pulmonary
Veins. These are the
only veins in the body
that carry oxygenated
blood.
 Left Atrium

Oxygenated blood that is

returning from the lungs,
arrives at the Left Atrium
Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve
The Bicuspid Valve has
2 cups. As the Left
Ventricle contracts, this
valve closes to prevent
the blood being pumped
back into the atrium.
Instead the blood goes
into the Aorta.
Left Ventricle
Blood is pumped from
the Left Ventricle around
the body. As this
demands more power,
the walls of the left
ventricle are thicker than
the right.
 Aorta
The blood leaves the left
ventricle via the Aorta, the
largest artery in the body.
The first branches from the
Aorta, called the Coronary
Arteries, go to supply the
heart itself with oxygen
before supplying anywhere
else in the body.
Aortic Valve

This Semi-lunar (half

moon) valve, stops
blood that is being
pumped to the body
from flowing back into
the heart.
 Septum

The Septum keeps the 2

sides of the heart
separate from each
other and prevents
oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood
from mixing.
Chordinae Tendinae

These strong fibres

prevent the valve from
turning inside-out under
the considerable
pressure that the
ventricle exerts.