Heart of the Matter
What muscle works nonstop from birth until death to circulate blood?
The heart
Which component makes up the liquid part of blood?
Plasma
What type of blood vessel has thick, muscular walls and carries blood away from the heart?
Arteries
What household item did Bill use to visualize a heartbeat?
Straw and bottle cap
What does your pulse measure?
How often your heart beats
What phrase describes the two sounds made by the beating heart?
Lub dub
What type of blood cell helps form scabs by clotting blood?
Platelets
What type of vessel has valves to prevent blood from flowing backward?
Veins
What can happen if you sit with your legs crossed too long?
Your foot falls asleep
What tool is wrapped around your arm to measure blood pressure?
Sphygmomanometer
What simple body movement can raise your heart rate quickly?
Exercise
Which blood cells are responsible for defending the body from disease?
White blood cells
Which vessels are so narrow blood cells must pass through them one at a time?
Capillaries
What humorous analogy did Bill Nye use for white blood cells?
Cops in your bloodstream
What everyday activity strengthens your heart over time?
Cardio exercise
What side of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs?
Left side
What is the most common blood cell in the body?
Red blood cells
What connects arteries to veins in the body’s circulation network?
Capillaries
What silly test did Bill perform using a foam cup and a friend?
Listening to a heartbeat
What causes someone to feel dizzy after standing up too fast?
Temporary drop in blood to the brain
What measurement tells you how hard your heart is working to push blood?
Blood pressure
What gas do red blood cells carry to the body’s tissues?
Oxygen
What is the nickname Bill Nye gives to large blood vessels near the heart?
Highways
How far could your blood vessels stretch if laid end to end?
About 100,000 kilometers
What food-related item did Bill compare the weight of a heart to?
An apple (about 300 grams)