What are two differences you see when comparing the four chambers of the heart? relate these differences to the function of each chamber. describe how the structure of the aorta relates to its function in the heart. what structural differences did you notice between arteries and veins? relate these differences to the function of the vessels. anna's autopsy report noted mitral valve prolapse. this means that the mitral valve does not close properly. explain why this could be a problem. using what you have learned about the structure and function of the heart, explain why left ventricular hypertrophy can be fatal if left untreated. now that you have seen a heart up close, explain how the actual structure differs from your heart box study tool?

I) The left chambers are larger than the right chambers. The right atrium and ventricle function is for transporting deoxidized blood, while the left atrium and ventricle functions for transporting oxidized blood. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle, right ventricle then pumps the deoxidized blood to the lungs, the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle which then pumps the blood to all parts of the body through the aorta.

ii) The aorta is a tube that transports the oxidized blood to the rest of the body. It needs to be bigger because it must push all the blood through the rest of the body. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart's muscular pumping chamber. The heart pumps blood from the left ventricle through the aorta through the aortic valve.

iii) Arteries and arterioles have thicker walls than veins, respectively. The increased amount of smooth muscle that is found in arteries gives them extra strength and elasticity to deal with surges of blood from the heart. Veins have valves within them to prevent back flow of blood. Veins also have wider inner diameters that means they can hold more blood. Since it would be impossible to get all the blood back to the heart as quickly as it left the heart, the veins have more blood in them than the arteries.

iv)  The valves are supposed to help the blood move in the right direction. If the valves do not work properly then the blood will not move in the right direction, and the body will not get the oxidized blood it needs. Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which the two valves flaps of the mitral valve do not close smoothly or evenly, but instead bulge upward into the left atrium. 

v)  The enlarged muscle loses elasticity and stiffens, preventing the chamber from filing properly and leading to increased pressure in the heart. The enlarged muscle tissue compresses its own blood vessels (coronary arteries) and may restrict its own supply of blood. The overworked muscle weakens. 

vi) In the actual structure, the arteries and veins are different sizes. The arteries have thicker muscular walls with narrow lumens while the veins have thinner walls and wide lumen and consists of valves that prevent back flow of blood. The ventricles and atria are different sizes and thickness to comply to the needs of the right and left parts of the heart.