Double circulatory system and structure of the heart
I can describe the pathway of blood through the double circulatory system and explain its importance in maintaining efficient blood flow.
Double circulatory system and structure of the heart
I can describe the pathway of blood through the double circulatory system and explain its importance in maintaining efficient blood flow.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Deoxygenated blood travels from the body into the heart's right side then through the pulmonary artery to the lungs.
- The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart then out the aorta to the body.
- Valves in the heart prevent the backflow of blood.
- The heart is a double circulatory pump. The pulmonary circuit carries blood to the lungs then back to the heart.
- The systemic circuit carries oxygenated blood out of the heart to the body tissues and returns with deoxygenated blood.
Keywords
Atria - the upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood and the left receives oxygenated blood
Ventricles - the lower chambers of the heart that receive blood from the atria before pumping it out to the body/lungs
Valves - structural feature that prevents backflow of blood
Pulmonary circulation - carries deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lung then back to the left side of the heart
Systemic circulation - carries oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body. After delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body, the blood returns to the right side of the heart deoxygenated
Common misconception
Which side of the heart is the left when you look at the body and which side is oxygenated versus deoxygenated.
The left side of the heart is nearest your left armpit and carries oxygenated blood, the right side of the heart has deoxygenated blood (remember: LORD - left, oxygenated and right, deogygenated).
Equipment
Red and blue pens for oxygenated and deoxygenated blood diagrams.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
allows movement when muscles contract to leverage bones
pumps blood to deliver oxygen/nutrients and remove waste products
enables gaseous exchange to get oxygen into the body
the heart, blood vessels and lungs that deliver oxygen to muscles
converts food we eat into nutrients we can use for energy, growth etc.
sends messages between the brain and different body parts
Exit quiz
6 Questions
carries blood from the heart to the lungs
situated between the left atrium and the left ventricle
the biggest chamber of the heart before blood is pumped to the body
the biggest artery in the body carrying blood into systemic circuit
the main vein carrying deoxygenated blood into the right atrium
prevent backflow into heart after being pumped out of ventricles