The heart and blood vessels: Knowledge of the blood vessels associated with the heart is limited to the aorta, vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein and coronary arteries. Knowledge of the names of the heart valves is not required.

The idea

You need to know five blood vessels linked to the heart and what each carries. The vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from the body into the right atrium. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. The pulmonary vein returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium. The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body. The coronary arteries branch from the aorta and supply the heart muscle itself with oxygenated blood. Remember that the pulmonary artery is unusual because it carries deoxygenated blood, and the pulmonary vein is unusual because it carries oxygenated blood. You do not need to name the heart valves.

What earns the marks

• Names the vena cava as the vessel bringing deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium.
• Names the pulmonary artery as the vessel carrying deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
• Names the pulmonary vein as the vessel carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
• Names the aorta as the vessel carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
• Names the coronary arteries as the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
• Applies the rule that arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood towards the heart, while noting the pulmonary exceptions.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming all arteries carry oxygenated blood.

  Put it right by remembering the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

• Assuming all veins carry deoxygenated blood.

  Put it right by remembering the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood to the heart.

• Confusing the vena cava with the aorta.

  Put it right by linking the vena cava to the right atrium and the aorta to the left ventricle.

Exam tips

• Learn the five vessel names with a simple flow diagram and label the direction of blood flow with arrows.
• Use the phrase arteries away, veins towards, then state the two pulmonary exceptions.
• If asked about the heart's own supply, name the coronary arteries rather than the aorta alone.