Why does my heart beat?

Our heart beats to pump blood around the body through tubes called arteries and veins. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to give us the energy to function daily.

Muscle Power

Our heart is a powerful muscle that pumps blood without taking any rest. The muscle surrounding the heart is called the cardiac muscle. This muscle helps the heart to contract itself in order to pump blood out and then relax back again so as to let the blood flow back in after it  has circulated throughout the body. The human heart is divided into four chambers.

Going To The Head

One-fifth of the blood in our body is pumped to the brain.

From The Heart

The arteries carry blood that contains oxygen from the heart to the cells around the body.

Returning Back

When the body has used up all of the oxygen, the veins carry the blood back to the heart to get more blood stream.

Largest Artery

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It is about as wide as the thumb.

Longest Vein

The longest vein in our body runs from the foot to the top of the thigh. It is known as the saphenous vein.

Getting Smaller

Tiny tubes called capillaries transfer the blood from the arteries to the veins. They are even thinner than a strand of hair.

Fun Facts

• The average heart is the size of an adult fist.
• There are 3 types of blood cells in the body; red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet cells.

Related Questions:

1. What is the function of platelet cells in the body?
2. Why do we bleed when we get a cut or injury on our body?
3. What is known as the pulse reading?

Objective Questions:

• The longest vein in our body is known as _________.
• On an average, the human heart beats about _________ times per minute.
• __________ of the total blood in our body is pumped to the brain.
• The heart is a type of ________.
• The human heart has ___ chambers.

True Or False:

1. Arteries and vein carry blood all around the body:____
2. Capillaries are quite thick:________
3. Oxygen is circulated in the blood stream: ________
4. We are able to function daily because the heart often beats: ______
5. There are four chambers of the heart:______