Anatomy TheHeart

Summary:Theheartisamuscularorganthatpumpsthebloodaroundthebody.The
heartisactuallyonlyasmallorganabout12cmx9cmx6cm(aboutasbigasyourfist).It
islocatedjusttotheleftofthemiddleofyourchest,protectedbythebreastbone.
Theheartismadeupoffourchambers,twoatriaandtwoventricles.

Venacava alargevein Aorta thelargestarteryinthe

thatbringsthebloodfrom body,itreceivesthebloodfrom
thebodybacktotheheart theheartandsoissubjectedto
thehighestbloodpressure
Rightatria
receivesbloodfrom
thebodyviathe
venacavaand Leftatria receivedthe
transfersittothe oxygenatedbloodfrom
rightventricle lungsandtransfersitto
theleftventricle(you
cantseetheconnection
Heartvalves inthisimage)
separatethechambers
oftheheartandthe
heartfromtheblood Leftventricle has
vessels. athickmuscularwall
toallowittogenerate
enoughpressureto
Rightventricle pushthebloodtothe
pumpsbloodtothelungs wholebody
sothatitcanget
oxygenated.Theright
ventriclewallhasathin
muscularwall
Lub Dub Didyouknow?
Openingandclosingoftheheartvalvesisthe
noiseyouhearwhenyoulistentotheheart.If
thevalvesaredamagedamurmurcanbeheard.

Clinicalanatomy: Ventricles
Whenadoctorwantstolookatthewaytheheartis contracting
workingtheydoanECG.Thisshowsthemthe
electricalactivitythatisoccurringintheheartasthe
heartmusclescontractandrelax. Atria
WehaveallseenanECGtraceontelevisionandit contracting
lookssomethingliketheoneshownhere.AnECGis
usuallydonewiththreeconnectionstothebodybut Ventricles
togeta3Dpicturethedoctorwillusea12leadECG. relaxing