A Functional Model of the Human Heart

Welcome to our exciting lesson on the heart! Today, we will embark on a journey to create a functional model of this vital organ, enhancing our understanding of how it works. Unlike a structural model, which focuses on the anatomy and appearance of the heart, our functional model will demonstrate the heart's pumping action and its essential role in circulating blood throughout the body.

We’ll start by exploring the structural aspects of the heart. Did you know that a heart is roughly the size of your fist? We will discuss how different animals have hearts of varying sizes and how the heart sits just to the left of your sternum. As we examine a model of the heart, we’ll identify key features, including chambers, blood vessels, arteries, and veins.

Next, we’ll dive into the functional aspects. The heart is a muscular pump with four chambers: the atria and ventricles. You’ll learn how blood moves through these chambers, and how valves regulate blood flow. We’ll investigate how oxygen-rich blood travels from the heart to nourish the body, and how de-oxygenated blood returns to the heart for re-oxygenation.

Downloads

• DIY Heart Pump Worksheet.pdf

Lesson Activity

• Watch the lesson
• Try the activities along with Dr. Robin
• Create your model
• Tell your family and friends about what you learned
• Do the practice questions
• Review the Quizlet flashcards