Are you trying to remember the circulatory system? In just 8 minutes, our tutorial will guide you through the intricate pathways of blood flow in a way that’s easy to understand… and remember. We ditch the complicated anatomical drawings and the overly detailed video software. This is a drawing you could do with crayons and give to a 6-year-old.
We know that the simpler the learning process is, the easier it is to learn, and the more likely you are to repeat and practice. This means it’ll help your recall in exams and make it simple for future reference.
First, watch the video, pause and rewind as much as you like.
Watch: Simplifying the Circulatory System – 8 minutes
The foundation of this strategy is to follow all three stages and practice each one a couple of times before moving on.
Stage 1: Start with the 4 Heart Chambers:
Draw a square with 4 sections.
These represent the course heart chambers.
Here you’l learn the functions of the Left Atrium, Left Ventricle, Right Atrium, and Right Ventricle. Each chamber plays a crucial role in maintaining the flow of blood throughout the heart and the entire body.
- Left Atrium: Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins.
- Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta, delivering it to the body.
- Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava.
- Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery for oxygenation.
Remember the Left side of the heart is on the RIGHT side of your page. If you were a heart surgeon you go off the patient’s left and right not yours… else that might cause some issues in surgery lol
Stage 2: Draw the blood flow:
Draw the lungs above the heart and a stick man below the heart.
Then draw the blood flow.
Use your red pen to draw a line from the lungs to the left atrium. Then and arrow to the left ventricle. Then a line to the body.
use your blue pen to draw a line from the body to the right atrium. Then an arrow to the right ventricle. Then a line back to the lungs.
Practice this process at least 3 times before moving on
Stage 3: Label the Circulatory System
The blood flow follows this specific route, you can also follow this on the image below:
- Lungs
- Pulmonary Vein
- Left Atria
- Left Ventricle
- Aorta
- Arteries
- Arterioles
- Capillaries
- Organs, Muscles and Tissues of the Body
- Capillaries
- Venules
- Veins
- Vena Cava
- Right Atrium
- Right Ventricle
- Pulmonary Artery
- Lungs
Notice that the blood vessels are symmetrical, they have their functional opposite.
The oxygenated side has the large Aorta, then the Arteries, then arterioles then capillaries… all reducing in thickness of blood vessels.
However, the other side works in the opposite direction flowing capillaries, Venules, Veins, Vena Cava… all increasing in thickness of the blood vessels.
This is a good way of remembering the route of blood around the Circulatory System and recognising key features of blood flow.
Put it together:
Now you’ve completed all three stages of simplifying the circulatory system, practice it. Rewind the video and repeat it at least three times.
Then have a go at these questions
Heart and Circulatory System Mock Questions
Answer these three questions and check your answers below
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs?
A. Left Atrium
B. Right Atrium
C. Left Ventricle
D. Right Ventricle
2. What name is given to the blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the left ventricle?
A. Coronary Arteries
B. Vena Cavae
C. Pulmonary arteries
D. Aorta
3. What is the role of the Pulmonary Vein?
A. Carry de-oxygenated blood to the lungs
B. Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs
C. Carry oxygenated blood from the heart
D. Carry de-oxygenated blood from the heart
If you want more mock questions like this, then you can download more Free Mock Questions: DOWNLOAD NOW
answers:
Q1 = D, Q2 = D, Q3 = B
Need More Help with your Level 3 Anatomy Revision?
For Trainee FITPROS Taking Their L3 Anatomy & Physiology Exam.
Learn, Revise & Pass Your Level 3 Anatomy & Physiology Exam In Under 10-hours
(Without Having To Spend Hours Revising Or Feeling Overwhelmed)
If you want to get your revision structured, learn everything you need to know and feel confident on exam day, then click the link below:
Dedicated to More
Hayley “Simplifying the Circulatory System” Bergman
Parallel Coaching
P.S. You can also find us on the following platforms:
Instagram: Follow Now
Facebook: Like Our Page
Twitter: Tweet Us
YouTube: Subscribe Here
More Heart Blogs: HERE