One of our Year Five Science Topics this term has been on the cardiovascular system, where we have been learning about the heart and how it pumps blood around our body. A visit to our recently built hospital was a fantastic opportunity to see how doctors monitor our hearts with a variety of equipment.
The best part of our visit was examining a child’s heart using an ultra sound machine. We could see the four chambers of the heart (atrium and ventricles). We could see the tricuspid and bicuspid valves opening and closing, allowing blood to flow through from the heart to the lungs. The children were able to identify the pulmonary artery, lungs and the aorta. The children were also given the opportunity to see an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) machine and learn how it works. We examined the digital images of organs to see what the MRI produces. Afterwards, we looked at a CT scanner, also known as a CAT scanner; unlike a regular X-ray machine, this image provides a much more detailed picture for doctors.
What a great experience! Many thanks to the staff at Cheshire Hall Hospital, for allowing our Year Five class to visit the newly built facilities.
