Preview

How Your Heart Works

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1111 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Your Heart Works
How Your Heart Works

[pic]

Your heart is a pump. It keeps blood moving around your body. The blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body, and carries away unwanted carbon dioxide and other waste products.

The heart has four chambers - two on the left side and two on the right. The two upper chambers are called the atria, and the two lower chambers are called the ventricles. The two sides of the heart are divided by a muscular wall called the septum. Each side of the heart has a ‘one-way valve system’, which means that the blood travels only in one direction through the heart.

The heart and circulatory system

With each contraction, or heartbeat, the heart pumps blood forward from the left side of the heart through the aorta (the main artery leaving the heart) and into the arteries. The arteries divide off into smaller and smaller branches to supply a microscopic network of capillaries, taking the blood to every part of your body. The blood then travels back to the heart from the capillaries into the veins, back to the heart. The branches of the veins join to form larger veins, which deliver the blood back to the right side of your heart.

[pic]

As the heart relaxes in between each heartbeat or contraction, blood from your veins fills the right side of your heart, and blood from the lungs fills the left side of your heart. The two sides of the heart are separate but they work together. The right side of the heart receives dark, de-oxygenated blood which has circulated around your body. It pumps this to your lungs, where it picks up a fresh supply of oxygen and becomes bright red again.

The heart wall is made up of special muscle called myocardium. Like every other living tissue, the myocardium itself needs a continuous supply of fresh blood. This supply of blood comes from the coronary arteries which start from the main artery (the aorta) as it leaves the left ventricle. The coronary arteries spread across the outside of the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Path
    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Path

    The path blood take from the right femoral vein to lower lobe of the right lung via the pulmonary artery is as follows; we start in the right femoral vein which is located in the thigh and travel to the right external iliac vein. Blood from the femoral vein emptiness in the inferior vena cava but first must travel through the external iliac. The iliac vein joins with the inferior vena cava. The inferior vena cava takes deoxygenated blood form the lower limbs of the body to the right atrium (Thibodeau, Patton, 2008.). Following the inferior vena cava we travel in to the right atrium of the heart. The purpose of right atrium of the heart is to receive deoxygenated blood from the body through the inferior vena cava and pump it into the right ventricle (MedicineNet.com, 2012). Once we are ready to leave the right atrium we go into the right AV valve (AV is atrioventricular or cuspid, (Thibodeau, Patton, 2008.).The AV valve stops blood from flowing backwards and every time the heart beats the valve opens and closes. The AV valve allows blood to flow into the right ventricle. But before blood goes into the right ventricle it has to travel through the tricuspid valve. The tricuspid valve along with AV and SL are all structures that prevent blood from flowing backwards (Thibodeau, Patton, 2008.). So we now know that the right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium, but what we don’t already know is that the right ventricle sends the... [continues]…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    cardiac tumors
    • 9291 Words
    • 38 Pages

    cardiac tumors

    The outer wall of the human heart is composed of three layers. The outer layer is called the epicardium, or visceral pericardium since it is also the inner wall of the pericardium. The middle layer is called the myocardium and is composed of muscle which contracts. The inner layer is called the endocardium and is in contact with the blood that the heart pumps. Also, it merges with the inner lining (endothelium) of blood vessels and covers heart valves…

    • 9291 Words
    • 38 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    p4 explain the physiology of two named body systems in relation to metabolism

    • 1354 Words
    • 4 Pages

    p4 explain the physiology of two named body systems in relation to metabolism

    The myocardium, commonly referred to as the heart, acts as a pump for transporting blood around the body via a collective system, known as the cardiovascular system. This system has various components; blood vessels; mainly arteries, veins and capillaries. The cardiovascular system has four main functions within the body. Firstly to transport dissolved oxygen, hormones, nutrients, salts, enzymes and urea to cells located around various places within the body, whilst at the same time eliminating any waste products such as carbon dioxide and water. Secondly, to protect the body from infection and blood loss. Thirdly, to distribute heat around the body to enable a healthy temperature of 37oc and finally to aid the body to maintain fluid balance. This ‘human pump’ can be regarded as two pumps. The fist sized organ contains two muscular chambers; the upper chamber; the atrium and the lower; the ventricle. The right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood from the veins to the lungs for oxygenation, whilst the left side pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to the body. It is important to note that the two sides are separated by a septum. The blood flows through the heart twice within one cycle, this is known as ‘double circulation’.…

    • 1354 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Cardiovascular System: The Circulatory System
    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Cardiovascular System: The Circulatory System

    The cardiac muscle of the heart wall depends on a constant flow of blood supply by the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are blood vessels that arise from the base of the aorta and bring freshly oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. If this supply is restricted, then oxygen and nutrients can’t reach the muscles and the result could be a form of coronary artery disease (CAD). It can also be known as coronary heart diseases (CHD). This form of partial or complete block can be caused by fatty deposits, blood clots, or both. Overall, the extent of the symptoms of coronary artery disease depends on the location, severity, and how fast the disease will start from the limited blood supply.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homeostasis Research Paper
    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Homeostasis Research Paper

    The heart lies in the thoratic cavity, organs associated with the heart are inferiorly, the hearts apex rested on the tendon of the diaphragm, superiorly, the great blood vessels, posteriorly the oesophagus, trachea and the left and right bronchus, laterally, the lungs and anteriorly the sternum and ribs. (Waugh& Grant 2014). The heart provides a constant blood circulation action and the blood vessels provide a network for the blood flow. The heart is the pump responsible for maintaining adequate circulation of oxygenated blood around the vascular network of the body, ( www.le.ac.uk) the right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs (pulmonary circulation) and the left side receives oxygenated blood and supplies it to the rest of the body (systemic circulation). There are three types of blood vessel, arteries, capilleries and veins. Blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries at high pressure which could damage the tissue so it needs to go through the capillaires which are smaller low pressure blood vessels that are responsilbe for providing oxygen to the tissues, they also absord excess carbon dioxide and then deliver the blood into the veins which then supply the blood back to the heart. The heart generates its own electrical impulses, it does not rely on any other external mechanisn to make it beat. A normal heart rate is 60-80 times per minute, factors which can decrease or…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Congestive Heart Disease (Chf)
    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Congestive Heart Disease (Chf)

    The heart can be described as muscular pump; it’s primary function is to pump blood. The heart consists of four chambers. The upper two chambers are called the atriums and the lower two chambers are called the ventricles. As the heart contracts, blood is pumped through the body with the assistance of four heart valves. Blood that is low in oxygen flows back to the heart after circulating through the body. The blood enters through veins and enters the right atrium. This chamber empties blood through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The right ventricle continues to pump the blood under low pressure through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery. The blood is now directed to the lungs where it gets fresh oxygen. After the blood is oxygenized, the blood will have a bright red…

    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    A&P2 Fantastic Voyage, Unit 4
    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages

    A&P2 Fantastic Voyage, Unit 4

    Moving right along, we now can see the right atria. The right atria is part of the heart, which is the upper chamber, which receives the de-oxygenated blood form our body from the vena cava and is then pumped into the right ventricle of the heart, which is the lower chamber of the heart. After it has done so it will move its way to the lungs under low pressure, which is via the pulmonary artery and there the blood will be turned into oxygenated blood. Between the right atria and the right ventricle…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    P4 - explain the physiology of two named body systems in relation to energy metabolism in the body
    • 2117 Words
    • 7 Pages

    P4 - explain the physiology of two named body systems in relation to energy metabolism in the body

    The heart is located between lungs and it is protected by the rib cage, it is thought to be the same size as a closed fist. The heart is protected a membrane called pericardium, this membrane contains a film of fluid which helps prevent fiction. Each side of the heart consist of an atrium and a ventricle. The right side of the heart carries deoxygenated blood through the veins to the lungs, and the left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood through the arteries around the body. The heart is separated by a septum. “Each of the four heart chambers has a major blood vessels entering or leaving it. Veins enter the atria, and arteries leave the ventricles” (Strech, Beryl; Whitehouse, Mary;, 2010) The pulmonary circulation is the circulation to and from the lungs. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood this leaves the right ventricle to go to the lungs and the blood is separated between the two lungs and the pulmonary blood then carries oxygenated blood and then enters the left atrium. The main artery which is located leaving the left ventricle is called the aorta. The main vein which is located entering the right atrium is called the vena cava. The vena cava has two part (branches), these two parts are called the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. The superior vena cava returns blood from the neck and brain. The inferior vena cava returns blood from the rest of the body. The blood can only flow one way so there are 2 sets of valves which are between th atrium and the ventricles. These valves are called the right and left…

    • 2117 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cardiovascular Study Guide
    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Cardiovascular Study Guide

    Blood comes from the upper and lower body (everywhere but lungs) when entering the right atrium.…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cardiovascular
    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Cardiovascular

    The cardiovascular system (heart, blood, and blood vessels) works together with the RESPIRATORY system (air passages, lungs). As air is breathed in, the blood picks up oxygen from the lungs. The blood carries the oxygen to the heart. The heart pumps the blood into the arteries and on to the muscles and other body cells. Muscle cells need oxygen to keep working. Waste products are given off by the working muscle cells and are then removed by the blood. The veins return the blood containing wastes back to the heart. The heart pumps this returning blood to the lungs where wastes are exchanged for more oxygen, and the process begins all over again. The heart is a muscle and like other muscles, the heart gets stronger through the right kind of exercise. The heart acts as a pump to supply blood to the…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sc235 Unit 4 Assignment
    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Sc235 Unit 4 Assignment

    The heart is what some determine to be the most important organ in our bodies and one of the biggest contributors. It is one of the major organs that if we did not have, it would not be possible for us to live. The heart is about the size of a fist and is broken down into four chambers, the aorta, superior vena cava, pulmonary artery, and the coronary artery. The four chambers include the right and left atrium and the right and left ventricle. The heart is responsible for supplying oxygen and blood to the entire body. Blood passes through these four chambers and then exits and pumps into the rest of the body. The heart also has three layers of walls…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cardiovascular DIsease
    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Cardiovascular DIsease

    Oxygenated blood from the lungs then returns to the left atrium of the heart. -----------------------…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Age Related Changes in the Cardiovascular System
    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Age Related Changes in the Cardiovascular System

    There are four chambers in the heart, two atria and two ventricles. The atria are the upper receiving chambers and the ventricles are the lower pumping chambers. The right side of the heart contains deoxygenated blood and the left carries oxygenated blood. The right atrium receives blood from three veins, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and coronary sinus. The right ventricle forms the most outer surface of the heart. The left atrium receives blood from the lungs through four pulmonary veins. The left ventricle is the thickest chamber in the whole heart and forms the apex (bottom) of the heart.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Heart Dissection
    • 538 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Heart Dissection

    Turn the heart so that the right side is on your right. Find the large opening at the top of the heart next to the right auricle. This is the opening to the superior vena cava, which brings blood from the top half of the body to the right atrium (the atria are the top chambers in the heart). A little down and to the left of the large vena cava there is another blood vessel opening. It leads into the right atrium. This is the inferior vena cava, which brings blood from the lower tissues. You can also see another blood vessel next to the left auricle. This is a pulmonary vein that brings blood from the lungs into the left atrium.…

    • 538 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Ekg Lab Report
    • 1813 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Ekg Lab Report

    In a normal human being the heart correctly functions by the blood first entering through the right atrium from the superior and inferior vena cava. This blood flow continues through the right atrioventricular valve into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts forcing the pulmonary valve to open leading blood flow through the pulmonary valve and into the pulmonary trunk. Blood is then distributed from the right and left pulmonary arteries to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is unloaded and oxygen is loaded into the blood. The blood is returned from the lungs to the left atrium by the pulmonary veins. From this step the blood in the left atrium goes through the left AV valve and into the left ventricle. Once more the left ventricle contracts and forces the aortic valve to open, the blood flows through the aortic valve and into the ascending aorta. From these actions blood in the aorta is distributed to all the organs in the body, unloading oxygen and loading carbon dioxide simultaneously. Lastly, the blood returns to the heart through the vena cava and this process is continuously happening in our bodies (Jimenez L11).…

    • 1813 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics