Pumping Heart Model

This heart model is a great demonstration of one chamber of the heart and valve.

The heart has two features that keep blood flowing in the right direction. These are chambers and valves. Chambers fill with blood, then squeeze to pump the blood out.

Each side of the heart has an entry chamber  ( atrium ) and an exit chamber ( ventricle ). These pump one after the other to keep the blood flowing around.

Valves stop blood flowing backwards. When the ventricle contracts the atriums exit valve closes so blood cannot fall back into it. When the ventricle relaxes its exit valve closes to stop blood flowing backwards.