Structure of the Heart (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

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