LER 1902 Made of durable Soft Foam! Explore the human heart through hands-on investigation!
T he human heart is one of the most important parts of the body. It is responsible for moving blood and other nutrients throughout the entire body. The Cross-Section Heart Model is a great hands-on way to introduce and discuss the functions and parts of a heart. The model can easily be passed around so that students can physically interact with the model and gain a more concrete understanding about this important organ.
A. Superior Vena Cava – A large vein that carries oxygen poor blood into the heart from the upper body and into the right atrium. B. Right Atrium – Blood from the vena cava enters into the right atrium and is then sent to the right ventricle. C. Inferior Vena Cava – A large vein that carries oxygen poor blood into the heart from the lower body and into the right atrium. D. Tricuspid Valve – The valve separating the right atrium and right ventricle, preventing blood from flowing in the wrong direction. E.
Blood Flow through the Heart 1. It begins by bringing oxygen-rich blood from the lungs into the left atrium. 2. Then the blood moves through the mitral valve and into the left ventricle. 3. From the left ventricle it moves through the aortic valve. 4. From the aortic valve it goes to the aorta, which then sends the blood throughout the entire body. 5. The body uses up all the nutrients and oxygen from the blood and returns it to the heart into the superior and inferior vena cava. 6.
Interesting Heart Facts • The heart is constantly beating and does not stop. The heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day and about 35 million times a year! • The body has about six quarts (5.6 L) of blood in it that the heart circulates through the body about three times every minute. • The heart is located in the center of the chest between the lungs. • An adult heart is about the size of two fists put together, a child’s heart is about the size of one fist.
Keeping your Heart Healthy There are many different things that you can do to keep your heart healthy and strong. Developing and maintaining healthy life style habits are the key to lowering your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and other heart related problems. The following suggestions are a starting point to maintaining a healthy heart and is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. 1. Make healthy eating a lifestyle • Simple choices like fruits and vegetables are always good.
• Cigarettes can cause your blood pressure to become higher, also making your heart work harder. • A smoker’s blood may contain up to 15 percent less oxygen causing the heart to work harder to get enough oxygen to the rest of your body. Suggested Activities • Allow students to hold the model. Ask them what observations they can make about the model and have them discuss what they already know about their heart. • Copy and enlarge the model on page 2 as a quiz or review.
Look for these related items from Learning Resources®: LER 1900 Cross Section Animal Cell LER 1901 Cross Section Plant Cell LER 1903 Cross Section Brain Model © Learning Resources, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL (U.S.A.) Learning Resources Ltd., Kingʼs Lynn, Norfolk (U.K.) Please retain our address for future reference. Made in China.
