Structure of the Heart (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))
Revision Note
Written by: Naomi Holyoak
Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor
Heart: Structure
The heart contains muscle tissue that allows it to pump blood around the body
The heart has four chambers; the left and right atria, and the left and right ventricles
The left and right sides of the heart pump blood to different locations:
The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs
The left side of the heart pumps blood to the body
The left and right sides are divided into upper and lower chambers:
The upper chambers are the atria (singular atrium); they receive blood from either the body or the lungs and pump it to the lower chambers
The lower chambers are the ventricles; they receive blood from the atria and pump it to either the body or the lungs
Valves within the heart prevent blood from flowing backwards
Heart structure diagram
The heart has four chambers; the right and left atria, and the right and left ventricles
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Note that all diagrams of the heart are presented as though they are in the chest of a person standing opposite you; their right is on the left-hand side of the image, and their left is on the right-hand side of the image.
You can also imagine that the diagram is on a piece of paper that you hold up against your own chest so that it is facing outwards; in this situation the right and left on the outward-facing image will match your right and left-hand sides.
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