Heart Anatomy and Blood Circulation

This schéma cœur circulation sanguine provides a detailed view of the heart's structure and the path of blood flow. The diagram illustrates the position du cœur dans le thorax and its internal anatomy.

The heart is divided into four chambers: two upper chambers called atria (singular: atrium) and two lower chambers called ventricles. The right side of the heart handles deoxygenated blood, while the left side manages oxygenated blood.

Vocabulary: Atrium (plural: atria) - The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the body or lungs.

Vocabulary: Ventricle - The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood to the body or lungs.

The diagram shows several important blood vessels:

1. Pulmonary Artery (AP: Artère Pulmonaire): Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
2. Aorta (AO: Artère Aorte): The largest artery in the body, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
3. Superior Vena Cava (VCS: Veine Cave Supérieure): Returns deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium.
4. Pulmonary Vein (VP: Veine Pulmonaire): Brings oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Definition: The coupe longitudinale du coeur de mammifère refers to a lengthwise cross-section of a mammalian heart, as shown in this diagram.

The heart's valves play a crucial role in maintaining proper blood flow. The diagram highlights two types of valves:

1. Valvule auriculo-ventriculaire: These valves are located between the atria and ventricles. They prevent backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during contraction.

2. Valvule sigmoïde: These valves are found at the base of the major arteries leaving the heart (pulmonary artery and aorta). They prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles after it has been pumped out.

Highlight: The rôle des valvules is to ensure that blood flows in only one direction through the heart, preventing backflow and maintaining efficient circulation.

The diagram also uses color coding to differentiate between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood:

• Red arrows indicate oxygenated blood (sang dioxygène +++)
• Blue arrows represent deoxygenated blood (sang dioxyde de carbone +++)

This schéma du cœur à compléter provides a comprehensive overview of the heart's structure and function, making it an excellent resource for understanding the basics of cardiac anatomy and blood circulation.