Sheep Heart Structure and Function

Structure and Function Sheet – Heart

Structure	Function
Superior vena cava	A vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium of the heart.
Inferior vena cava	A vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium of the heart.
Tricuspid valve	A valve (flap-like structures ensuring blood flow in one direction) located between right atrium and right ventricle preventing back flow of blood as it is pumped from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Right atrium	Receives blood returning to the heart from the superior and inferior vena cava.
Right ventricle	Receives blood from the right atrium through the tricuspid valve and pumps it to the main pulmonary artery, which extends from the right ventricle and branches into left and right pulmonary arteries, which extend to the lungs. Here deoxygenated blood is oxygenated by the alveoli and is returned to the heart through the pulmonary veins.
Left atrium	Receives blood returning to the heart from the pulmonary veins, which extend from the left atrium to the lungs and bring oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
Left ventricle	Receives blood from the left ventricle through the mitral/bicuspid valve, and pumps it to the aorta which is an artery.
Aorta	Carries and distributes oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Pulmonary artery	The artery transporting deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, where alveoli oxygenate the blood.
Pulmonary valve	Located between right ventricle and pulmonary artery; prevents the back flow of blood as it is pumped from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
Pulmonary veins	Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Mitral valve (bicuspid)	Keeps blood flowing in the right direction and prevents backflow of blood to the left atrium.

Sources:

about.com

exploratorium.edu