Cardiovascular System

Heart: An organ that is composed of cardiac muscle tissue and is vital for pumping blood throughout the body
Right Atrium: Pumps the deoxygenated blood that is collected from the body which enters from the superior or inferior vena cava and into the right ventricle
Right Ventricle: Pumps the deoxygenated blood received from the right atrium into the lungs in order to allow oxygen enter and to allow the carbon dioxide in the blood to be exhaled
Left Atrium: Pumps the oxygenated blood received from the lungs into the left ventricle
Left Ventricle: Pumps the oxygenated blood received from the left atrium out through the aorta and into the entire body
Superior Vena Cava: Carries blood from the upper part of the body into the right atrium
Inferior Vena Cava: Carries blood from the lower part of the body into the right atrium
Pulmonary Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood out of the right ventricle and into the lungs
Tip: You can remember that the artery carries blood away from
the heart by being aware that both the word artery and away
start with the letter a
Pulmonary Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood out of the
lungs and into the left atrium
Tip: You can remember that the vein carries blood into the heart by being aware that the word vein contains the word in
Tricuspid Valve: Allows blood from the right atrium to flow only into the right ventricle
Mitral Valve: Allows blood from the left atrium to flow only into the left ventricle