Anatomy of the Heart

Structure of the Heart

• The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body
• Located in the thoracic cavity, between the lungs
• Divided into four chambers:
  1. Right atrium (upper right chamber)
  2. Right ventricle (lower right chamber)
  3. Left atrium (upper left chamber)
  4. Left ventricle (lower left chamber)

Functions of the Heart

• Pumps blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues
• Receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs to be oxygenated
• Regulates blood pressure and circulation

Blood Flow Through the Heart

• Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the superior and inferior vena cavae
• Blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve
• Right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery
• Oxygenated blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins and enters the left atrium
• Blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve
• Left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body through the aorta

Heartbeat Regulation

• The heartbeat is regulated by the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium
• The SA node produces electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat
• The atrioventricular (AV) node relays the electrical impulses from the SA node to the ventricles

Blood Pressure and Circulation

• The heart pumps blood at an average rate of 70-80 beats per minute
• Blood pressure is highest in the aorta and decreases as blood flows through the circulatory system
• The heart adjusts blood pressure and circulation in response to changes in the body's needs, such as during exercise or stress.

Structure of the Heart

• Located in the thoracic cavity, between the lungs
• Divided into four chambers: Right atrium, Right ventricle, Left atrium, Left ventricle

Functions of the Heart

• Pumps blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues
• Receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs to be oxygenated
• Regulates blood pressure and circulation

Blood Flow Through the Heart

• Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the superior and inferior vena cavae
• Blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve
• Right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery
• Oxygenated blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins and enters the left atrium
• Blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle through the mitral valve
• Left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body through the aorta

Heartbeat Regulation

• The heartbeat is regulated by the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium
• The SA node produces electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat
• The atrioventricular (AV) node relays the electrical impulses from the SA node to the ventricles

Blood Pressure and Circulation

• The heart pumps blood at an average rate of 70-80 beats per minute
• Blood pressure is highest in the aorta and decreases as blood flows through the circulatory system
• The heart adjusts blood pressure and circulation in response to changes in the body's needs