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GCSE Biology · key term
Specialised muscle tissue in the heart that contracts repeatedly to pump blood.
Used by OCR
Specification B2.2d · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
Revise: Heart and blood vesselsThe mammalian heart keeps blood moving through blood vessels so that this transport can happen. Its structure is matched to this demanding function: it is made from cardiac muscle, contains four chambers and has valves that maintain one-way flow.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Specialised muscle tissue that contracts and relaxes rhythmically to pump blood through the heart.
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The heart is an organ that pumps blood through blood vessels. This keeps blood moving so that cells can receive substances such as oxygen and dissolved food molecules, while wastes can be carried away. Its structure suits a repeated pumping job: cardiac muscle provides the force, chambers receive and eject blood, and valves keep it moving in the intended direction.