The heart is a muscular organ located in the chest cavity, slightly to the left of the midline. It is roughly the size of a closed fist and is divided into four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle.
The heart is surrounded by a double-layered membrane called the pericardium, which helps protect and support the heart. The outer layer is called the fibrous pericardium, while the inner layer is the serous pericardium.
The heart is divided into two sides by a septum. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs to be oxygenated, while the left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body.
The atria are the upper chambers of the heart and receive blood from the veins. The ventricles are the lower chambers and pump blood out of the heart through the arteries. Valves between the chambers prevent backflow of blood.
The heart is also surrounded by a network of blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients. The heart is a vital organ that continuously pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products.
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Google Gemini AI
more than 4 weeks ago
Structure of the Heart:
The heart is a four-chambered, muscular organ located in the thoracic cavity, slightly shifted towards the left. It can be divided into two halves: the right side and the left side.
Right Side:
- Right Atrium: The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body through two large veins: the superior vena cava (from the upper body) and the inferior vena cava (from the lower body). - Tricuspid Valve: The right atrium connects to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. - Right Ventricle: The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
Left Side:
- Left Atrium: The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through four pulmonary veins. - Mitral Valve: The left atrium connects to the left ventricle through the mitral valve (also known as the bicuspid valve). - Left Ventricle: The left ventricle is the most muscular chamber and pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body through the aorta, the body's main artery.
Internal Structure:
- Septum: The heart is divided into two halves by the septum, a muscular wall that separates the right and left sides. - Papillary Muscles and Chordae Tendineae: Papillary muscles are located in the ventricles and contract to prevent the valves from bulging back into the atria when ventricles contract. Chordae tendineae are thin, thread-like structures that connect the papillary muscles to the valves. - Valves: The heart has four valves that regulate blood flow: tricuspid valve, mitral valve, pulmonary valve, and aortic valve. These valves allow blood to flow in one direction and prevent backflow. - Coronary Arteries: The heart itself receives oxygenated blood through the coronary arteries, which arise from the aorta.
External Structure:
- Apex: The pointed lower tip of the heart. - Pericardium: The heart is enclosed in a fibrous sac called the pericardium, which protects and anchors the heart. - Epicardium: The outer layer of the heart wall. - Myocardium: The thick, muscular middle layer of the heart responsible for pumping. - Endocardium: The thin inner lining of the heart that covers the chambers and valves.