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Explain how blood is moved the heart. In your answer include how the direction of blood flow is maintained [4 marks] __

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Explain how blood is moved the heart. In your answer include how the
direction of blood flow is maintained
[4 marks]
__

Explain how blood is moved the heart. In your answer include how the direction of blood flow is maintained [4 marks] __

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TanwenMaster · Tutor for 5 years

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The blood from the body enters the heart through the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava. The right atrium contracts pushing the blood into the right ventricle. The blood then moves to the lungs via the pulmonary artery during right ventricle contraction, where it is oxygenated. It then returns back to the heart into the left atrium via the pulmonary veins. With contraction of the left atrium, it is guided into the left ventricle. Eventually, upon contraction the left ventricle propels the blood through the aorta out to the remainder of the body. The one-way valves that include the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves besides the synchronized heart contraction and relaxation mechanims substantiate that the blood will only flow in one particular direction thus preventing backward flow.

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## Step1: <br />First, blood returns to the heart from the body and enters through the right atrium via two large veins, known as the superior and inferior vena cava. The superior vena cava carries the blood from the upper portion of the body while inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower portion. <br /><br />## Step2: <br />The contracted right atrium pushes the blood into the right ventricle. This is a key part where the heart acts as a pump to aid in blood circulation. <br /><br />## Step3: <br />The right ventricle, upon contraction, sends the even now deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. In the lungs, the blood is oxygenated again - oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is expelled out.<br /><br />## Step4: <br />The freshly oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood then returns to the heart, this time flowing into the left atrium via the pulmonary veins.<br /><br />## Step5: <br />The contraction of the left atrium pushes the oxygenated blood right into the left ventricle.<br /><br />## Step6: <br />When the left ventricle contracts, the blood is expelled out of the heart via the aorta and is redirected to various parts of the body where it is needed. <br /><br />## Step7: <br />The one-way valves in the heart (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic) play a vital role to maintain the direction of blood flow in the heart. These valves, positioned between own set of chambers (right atrium and right ventricle, and left atrium and left ventricle) and between ventricles and large blood vessels, only allow blood to flow in one direction preventing any backwards and unwanted movement. The combined action of heart contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) that occurs in a coordinated manner also propels the blood in one single direction.
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