Monday, June 15, 2009

Basic Heart Anatomy and Its Function

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to all the tissues in your body through a network of blood vessels. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives the blood containing oxygen and pumps the blood to the rest of your body

Aorta --> the largest artery in the body. carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body.

Pulmonary valve --> controls the blood flow from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery and into your lungs.

Right atrium --> the chamber that collects oxygen-poor blood returning from your body.

Tricuspid valve --> controls blood flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle.

Right ventricle --> the chamber that pumps oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary valve and into your lungs.

Ventricular septum --> a wall of muscle seperating the left and right sides of the heart.

Left ventricle --> the largest and strongest chamber of your heart that pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve.

Mitral valve --> controls the flow of oxygen-rich blood from your left atrium to your left ventricle.

Aortic valve --> controls blood flow from your left ventricle to your aorta.

Left atrium --> the chamber that collects oxygen-rich blood returning from your lungs.

Pulmonary artery --> One of the two vessels which are formed as terminal branches of the pulmonary trunk and convey unaerated blood to the lungs. It is the artery that carries blood with low levels of oxygen from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. The two pulmonary arteries differ in length and anatomy.

The heart is the most important part of our body. It's nice to educate ourselves on these things and to be aware. Thanks Mayo and Heart Basics. Most of all, thank GOD for everything. Amen. God bless everyone :).


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