What are the key functions of the atria and ventricles in the mammalian heart?

Atria receive blood returning to the heart, and pump it into the ventricles:

  1. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body
  2. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs


Ventricles pump blood out of the heart:

  1. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
  2. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body

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Compare the structure of the atria and ventricles in a mammalian heart, and explain these differences.

Atria are smaller and have thinner walls as they only need to pump blood to the ventricles.


Ventricles have thicker muscular walls to pump blood out of the heart to the lungs and rest of the body, which requires more force.

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Compare the structure and function of the left and right ventricles in the mammalian heart, and explain these differences.

The left ventricle has a thicker muscular wall as it pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body, requiring more force.


The right ventricle has a thinner wall as it only pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs, which are close by.

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Why does blood need to return to the heart after being oxygenated by the lungs, before being transported to rest of the body?

Blood needs to return to the heart because, after the reduction in pressure that occurs when blood travels through pulmonary capillaries, the pressure needs to increase again.


Blood needs to be pumped to the rest of the body under high pressure to ensure efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells.

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State the names of the valves between the atria and ventricles on each side of the heart.

Valve between the right atrium and right ventricle: tricuspid valve or right atrioventricular valve.


Valve between the left atrium and left ventricle: bicuspid valve or left atrioventricular valve.

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What is the function of the valves between the atria and the ventricles?

The valves between the atria and ventricles ensure one-way flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles, preventing backflow when the ventricles contract.

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Which blood vessels are connected to the left and right atria, and where do they transport blood from/to?

  1. The right atrium is connected to the vena cava - transports deoxygenated blood from the body into the heart
  2. The left atrium is connected to the pulmonary vein - transports oxygenated blood from the lungs into the heart

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Which blood vessels are connected to the left and right ventricles, and where do they transport blood from/to?

  1. The right ventricle is connected to the pulmonary artery - transports deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs
  2. The left ventricle is connected to the aorta - transports oxygenated blood from the heart to the body

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What is the septum, and what is its function?

The septum is a muscular wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart.


The septum prevents oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing.

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What are the semilunar valves, and what is their function?

The semilunar valves are located between each of the ventricles and the pulmonary artery and aorta, respectively.


The semilunar valves prevent backflow of blood into the heart after it has been pumped out.

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