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A tubular heart is a simple, elongated, muscular blood vessel that acts as a pump. This type of heart is found in many invertebrates, such as arthropods, and is adequate for circulating blood at low pressures and slow rates. The heart's walls contract rhythmically, pushing blood forward. In some arthropods, a section of the dorsal blood vessel expands to form a chambered tubular heart with openings called ostia that allow blood to flow in from the surrounding pericardium. Valves are typically present to ensure unidirectional blood flow. This contrasts with the more complex chambered hearts found in vertebrates.123

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