How did you memorize path of bloodflow in the heart?

[mysticpenguin]

I'm taking a summer anatomy and physiology class, and my lab instructor wants us to memorize the flow of blood through the heart. (IE, in through the vena cavae, right atrium, tricuspid, right ventricle, pulmonary semilunar valve, and so on.) Did anyone have to do this, and how did you memorize the pattern? I've always had trouble with the heart and we just learned this today and are being tested on it this Thursday -- any tips??

Thank you!!!!!!

[jayjo]

Drawing and labeling the heart really helped me visualize the pattern of bloodflow. Also remember:

1. Just as veins bring blood into the heart, so does the Vena Cava ( inf.& sup.)

2. Just as arteries take blood away from the heart, so does the Aorta

3. Pulmonary refers to the lungs, so pulmonary artery takes blood away from heart to lungs and pulmonary veins bring blood into the heart from lungs

4. Flows from atrium to ventricle b/c letter A comes before V

5. atrium/ventricles seperated by valves

Hope this helps.

[thatsthekeyRNC]

I memorized it by drawing the heart and the blood flow through it and then writing the description of what happens over and over until I could do it without referring to my notes. It may seem like a lot, but it's amazing. We ended up having to do that for our test, so I was very lucky and got full points because I KNEW it. I took it 2 years ago and I could probably draw and write everything out right now.

[tkm2005]

This might sound a little crazy to some but this is how I learned it. I would say this little "song" over in my head...

"Right-Tri-Right, PUL-PUL-PUL, Lung-Pul-Left, BLAA"

Right - Right Atrium

Tri - Tricuspid Valve

Right - Right Ventricle

Pul - Pulmonary Semi-Lunar Valve

Pul - Pulmonary Trunk

Pul - Pulmonary Arteries

Lung - Lung Capillaries

Pul - Pulmonary Veins

Left - Left Atrium

B - Bicuspid

L - Left Ventricles

A - Aortic Semilunar Valve

A - Aorta

I would remember that A comes before V in the alphabet so I always knew that the Atria came before the ventricles, and the Arteries came before the Veins.

Also, more people are RIGHT handed than left handed so the TRIcuspid valve is on the RIGHT, and since less people are LEFT handed the BICUSPID is on the left... (That's how I knew which valve came between the Right & Left Atria & Ventricles)

I hope this helps! :) It sure did me! I got 100% on all my pulmonary circulation quizzes, I had it last semester and still remembered it to type this post to you :) Good luck!

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

this is a little mnemonic that someone taught me and ive been using this since my first A&P class 4 years ago " TOILET PAPER MY ASS"

Tricuspid

Pulmonary

Mitral

Aortic

now look at the picture of the heart

and put it together, youll never forget :)

[tmow86]

[RescueNinja]

This is a good quiz...

http://www.skillstat.com/Flash/HeartScape531.html

Here are some more.

http://www.skillstat.com/learn.htm

[choc0late]

Your going to have to know that for heart problems in med surg as well. I just traced it over and over again until I got it. Once you do it's pretty easy. The left ventricle is the thicker side because it has to be more muscular to push the blood all the way from your head to your toes. Plus it has to be oxygenated because it's bring oxygen from your head to your toes. Then after your cells sucked up that oxygen it heads back to the heart into the right atrium to the right ventricle to the lungs to get oxygen in the lungs then into the left atrium to the left ventricle and back out again to the body. You will get it, it just takes practise. Drawing worked best for me as well as the A&P coloring book

[choc0late]

Pneumo-great pic!!

[guiltysins]

For me I just kept looking at it and practicing it. I found it easier to remember the main ones first R & L veins, R & L arteries and then I just went from there.