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Activity 2.2.

1 STUDY GUIDE
Part 1: List each chamber of the heart below. Identify whether each RECEIVES or
DISCHARGES blood. Identify each as part of the pulmonary or systemic pumps.
Identify whether each contains oxygen-rich or oxygen-poor blood.
Chamber
Right Atrium
Left Atrium
Right Ventricle
Left Ventricle

Receiving or
discharging chamber?
Receiving
Receiving
Discharging
Discharging

Pulmonary or
Systemic?
Pulmonary
Systemic
Pulmonary
Systemic

Oxygen rich or oxygen


poor?
Oxygen-poor
Oxygen-rich
Oxygen-poor
Oxygen-rich

Part 2: List each major vein and artery. Classify each as a vein or artery. State whether
each carries oxygen-rich or oxygen-poor blood. State whether each carries blood TO or
FROM the heart. List whether it goes to/from the LUNGS or the REST OF THE BODY.
Major Vessels Name
Aorta
Vena Cavas
Pulmonary Arteries
Pulmonary Veins

Vein or
Artery?
Artery
Veins
Arteries
Veins

Oxygen rich or
oxygen poor?
Oxygen-rich
Oxygen-poor
Oxygen-poor
Oxygen-rich

TO or FROM
heart?
From heart
To heart
From heart
To heart

Lungs or rest
of body?
To body
From body
To lungs
From lungs

Part 3: Explain the difference between veins and arteries.


Veins lead to the heart and arteries lead away. MOST arteries are oxygen-rich (the
exception is the pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood to the lungs to get
oxygen). MOST veins are oxygen-poor (the exception is the pulmonary veins, which
carry oxygen-rich blood back from the lungs).
Part 4: What are the 2 largest veins in the body and whats the main difference between
them?
The superior and inferior vena cavas are the largest veins. The superior comes to the
heart from the upper body (head and arms) and the inferior comes from the lower body
(legs and abdomen). Both carry de-oxygenated blood to the right atrium.
Part 5: What is the largest artery in the body?
The aorta is the largest artery. All of the blood has to pass through it on its way to the
tissues throughout the whole body. It has roughly the same diameter as a garden hose.

Part 6: Your arteries carry blood throughout the body and deposit it in all the tissues in
beds of tiny, tiny vessels (the smallest in the body). What are the tiniest, tiniest vessels
called?
They are called capillaries and are found throughout all the tissues of the body. They
are where oxygen and nutrients get deposited and carbon dioxide and waste gets
picked up by the blood and taken to the kidneys (in the case of cellular waste) or the
lungs (in the case of carbon dioxide) so it can be removed from the body.
Part 7: What is the OTHER name for the bicuspid valve?
It is also called the mitral valve.
Part 8: Define each term and then explain how each is useful in understanding the
hearts anatomy:
Pulmonary: It means lungs and its useful because the pulmonary arteries lead from the
heart to the lungs and the pulmonary veins lead to the heart from the lungs.
Inferior: It means lower and is useful because the inferior vena cava returns blood from
the lower body.
Superior: It means upper and is useful because the superior vena cava returns blood
from the upper body.
Part 9: Whats the function of the pulmonary and aortic valves?
They keep blood from flowing back into the ventricles from the aorta and pulmonary
arteries as the heart pumps.
Part 10: Whats the function of the mitral and tricuspid valves?
They keep blood from flowing back into the atria from the ventricles as the heart pumps.
Part 11: Using the following terms, pretend to be a red blood cell. Write a summary
describing how you pass through the heart and lungs and to and from the tissues of the
body. Your summary should show that you have a THOROUGH understanding of all
terms. Please use all of these terms in your answer. Id suggest starting your path in
the RIGHT ATRIUM and continuing until you return to the right atrium once more. Make
sure its really clear where you pick up and drop off oxygen. Include all relevant
chambers, valves, veins, arteries, the lungs and capillaries.
I start in the right atrium and pass through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. I
then shoot out through the pulmonary trunk and happen to end up in the right
pulmonary artery, headed toward the right lung. While in the right lung, I pass through
oxygen-rich capillary beds and pick up lots of oxygen, changing from a blue color to a
rich red. I then race back toward the heart through a pulmonary vein, which deposits
me into the left atrium. I flow through the bicuspid (or mitral) valve into the largest
chamber of the heart. Its known as the left ventricle. I stay there for only a moment

before the muscles around me squeeze the ventricle and I flow through the aortic valve
and into the aorta. I then get pushed into smaller and smaller arteries until I find myself
in someones left toe and tiny, tiny capillaries. I drop off my oxygen and nutrients and
start to change back to a blue color. As I head back toward the heart, the veins I am in
get larger and larger until I find myself in one of the largest veins in the body, the inferior
vena cava. It transports me all the way to the right atrium and Im ready to start my
adventure once more. Man am I tired!

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