The Mammalian Heart (Cambridge International IGCSE Biology)

Spec point — 9.1.3 · Identify in diagrams and images the structures of the mammalian heart, limited to: muscular wall, septum, left and right ventricles, left and right atria, one-way valves and coronary arteries State that blood is pumped away from the heart in arteries and returns to the heart in veins

The mammalian heart

• The heart is labelled as if it was in the chest, so the left on a diagram is actually the right-hand side
• The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs
• The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body
• Blood is pumped towards the heart in veins and away from the heart in arteries
• The two sides of the heart are separated by a muscle wall called the septum
• The heart is made of muscle tissue which are supplied with blood by the coronary arteries

Structure of the human heart

Exam Hint Remember A-A: Arteries carry blood Away from the heart