BIO 12 UNIT 4: Study Notes

KEY STRUCTURES OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

BLACK: Systematic Circulation

BLUE: Pulmonary Circulation

• Left Atrium: Sends oxygenated blood to the left ventricle via the AV valve (bicuspid/mitral)
• Right Atrium: Sends deoxygenated blood to the right ventricle via the AV valve (tricuspid)
• Left Ventricle: Sends oxygenated blood via the aortic semi-lunar valve to the aorta which in turn distributes blood throughout the body
• Right Ventricle: Sends deoxygenated blood via the pulmonary semi-lunar valve to the pulmonary trunk to the pulmonary arteries--> lungs (gas exchange)
• Coronary Arteries and Veins: Part of systematic circuit that are the initial branches off the aorta. Cardiac veins empty into the right atrium (capillary beds (exterior)--> venules--> veins)
• Anterior (Superior) Vena Cava: Sends deoxygenated blood from the upper body (head, chest and arms) to the heart (right atrium)
• Posterior (Inferior) Vena Cava: Sends deoxygenated blood from the lower body (liver, kidneys, intetsines, feet, etc.) to the heart (right atrium)
• Aorta: Sends oxygenated blood throughout the body (organs, tissues, etc.); starts near left ventricle 
• Pulmonary Arteries: Sends deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for gas exchange (stems from pulmonary trunk that stems from the right ventricle)
• Pulmonary Veins: Sends oxygenated blood to the heart (left atrium) from the lungs 
• Pulmonary Trunk: Stems from right ventricle and carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the pulmonary arteries that carry it the lungs
• Atrioventricular Valves: Located in between the atrium and ventricle for each side of the heart, allows blood into the ventricle and prevents backflow of blood back into the atria
• RA/RV= Tricuspid AV valve
• LA/LV= Bicuspid/Mitral AV valve
• Chordae Tendineae: Strong fibrous strings that prevent invertion of AV valves (blood goes to wrong chambers)
• Semi-Lunar Valves: Half-moon shaped structures located in between the ventricle and corresponding vessel; prevents backflow of blood back into the ventricle
• Pulmonary: In between the RV and the pulmonary trunk
• Aortic: In between LV and the aorta
• Septum: Separates left from right side of the heart, composed of muscular tissue