The coronary bypass surgery is undoubtedly a significant achievement of modern medical science. But, one ponders over certain pertinent questions such as the cost and the ultimate benefit.

The human heart is nothing but a four-chambered muscular pump, which supplies blood to all parts of the body. Being a pump, the heart itself requires a lot of energy and receives its own blood supply via certain vessels called coronary arteries. By a process called ‘atherosclerosis’, fat particles are deposited on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, which eventually reduces their size and obstructs the free flow of blood. The portion of the heart, which suffers from lack of blood supply becomes weaker and gives rise to a typical chest pain called ‘angina’. When such blockage is total, the corresponding heart muscle dies and one suffers a ‘heart attack’.

In these circumstances, heart surgeons perform a special operation known as a ‘coronary bypass surgery’. In this surgery a blood vessel is taken (usually from the leg of the patient) and grafted on the heart such that when blood flows through, it bypasses the diseased coronary artery. The idea is to divert the flow from the narrow artery, inside which there is already a ‘traffic congestion’ and in this respect it is synonymous to a road bypass.

A1. Choose the correct alternative to complete each sentence:

1. The human heart is a ____ muscular pump.
   (a) three-chambered
   (b) four-chambered
   (c) five-chambered
   (d) six-chambered
2. The heart receives its own blood supply via ____.
   (a) coronary vessels
   (b) coronary veins
   (c) coronary capillaries
   (d) coronary arteries
3. When a heart muscle dies and one suffers a ‘___ attack’.
   (a) heart
   (b) panic
   (c) anxiety
   (d) asthma
4. In a coronary bypass surgery, a blood vessel is usually taken from the ____ of the patient.
   (a) arm
   (b) back
   (c) leg
   (d) foot

A2. Say why?

A coronary bypass surgery is synonymous to a road bypass……………. .

A3. Find words from the passage which mean:

i. thinks carefully
ii. relevant
iii. provides
iv. ultimately

A4. Do as Directed

1. By a process called ‘atherosclerosis’, fat particles are deposited on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. (Frame a Wh-question to get the underlined words as the answer)
2. When such blockage is total, the corresponding heart muscle dies. (Identify the Clauses)

A5 Personal response question

Do you take good care of your heart? List a few things you do to keep your heart healthy.

B. Read the above passage and write a summary of it in a paragraph. Suggest a suitable title.

Answers:

A1. Choose the correct alternative to complete each sentence:

i. (b) four-chambered ii. (d) coronary arteries iii. (a) heart iv. (c) leg

A2. Say why?

A road bypass is an alternate road built specifically to avoid a road with a traffic congestion. Similarly, a coronary bypass surgery diverts the flow of blood around a congested artery. Since, both of these solutions work on the principle of bypassing an obstructed pathway, they can be said to be synonymous to each other.

A3.Find words from the passage which mean:

i. ponders
ii. pertinent
iii. supplies
iv. eventually

A4. Do as Directed:

1. How are fat particles deposited on the inner walls of the coronary arteries?
2. When such blockage is total =Subordinate Adverb Clause,
   Of Time the corresponding heart muscle dies = Main Clause

A5. Do you take good care of your heart? List a few things you do to keep your heart healthy.

Yes, I do take good care of my heart. A few things I do to keep my heart healthy are:
i. I practice yoga and meditation every morning to stay fit and calm.
ii. I avoid eating fried food as well as food with an excessive amount of oil.
iii. I swim every evening for at least an hour in my building’s swimming pool.
iv. I try to spend time with my friends and family as they make me truly happy.

(B) Personal Response Question

Coronary Bypass Surgery

The coronary bypass surgery is an achievement of modern medical science. The heart receives its own blood supply via coronary arteries. When fat particles are deposited on the inner walls of these arteries, the flow of blood is obstructed. In these circumstances, heart surgeons perform a ‘coronary bypass surgery’ in which a blood vessel is grafted on the heart such that it bypasses the diseased coronary artery.