Heart Structure and Function

Heart Structure

• The heart is a muscular, hollow organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
• It is divided into four chambers:
  1. Right Atrium (RA): receives oxygen-depleted blood from the body.
  2. Right Ventricle (RV): pumps oxygen-depleted blood from the RA to the lungs.
  3. Left Atrium (LA): receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
  4. Left Ventricle (LV): pumps oxygen-rich blood from the LA to the rest of the body.

Heart Walls

• The heart wall consists of three layers:
  1. Epicardium: outermost layer, a thin layer of connective tissue.
  2. Myocardium: middle layer, thick muscle tissue that contracts to pump blood.
  3. Endocardium: innermost layer, a thin layer of epithelial tissue that lines the heart chambers.

Heart Valves

• The heart has four valves that ensure blood flows in one direction:
  1. Tricuspid Valve: between RA and RV, prevents backflow from RV to RA.
  2. Pulmonary Valve: between RV and pulmonary artery, prevents backflow from lungs to RV.
  3. Mitral Valve: between LA and LV, prevents backflow from LV to LA.
  4. Aortic Valve: between LV and aorta, prevents backflow from aorta to LV.

Blood Flow

• Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the RA, then flows into the RV, and is pumped to the lungs.
• Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the LA, then flows into the LV, and is pumped to the rest of the body.

Septum and Chambers

• The Septum is a thin wall of tissue that separates the right and left sides of the heart.
• The Right and Left Coronary Arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.

Heart Structure

• The heart is a muscular, hollow organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
• It is divided into four chambers, including the Right Atrium, Right Ventricle, Left Atrium, and Left Ventricle.

Heart Chamber Functions

• The Right Atrium receives oxygen-depleted blood from the body.
• The Right Ventricle pumps oxygen-depleted blood from the Right Atrium to the lungs.
• The Left Atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
• The Left Ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood from the Left Atrium to the rest of the body.

Heart Walls

• The heart wall consists of three layers: the Epicardium, Myocardium, and Endocardium.
• The Epicardium is the outermost layer, a thin layer of connective tissue.
• The Myocardium is the middle layer, thick muscle tissue that contracts to pump blood.
• The Endocardium is the innermost layer, a thin layer of epithelial tissue that lines the heart chambers.

Heart Valves

• The heart has four valves that ensure blood flows in one direction.
• The Tricuspid Valve is located between the Right Atrium and Right Ventricle, preventing backflow from the Right Ventricle to the Right Atrium.
• The Pulmonary Valve is located between the Right Ventricle and pulmonary artery, preventing backflow from the lungs to the Right Ventricle.
• The Mitral Valve is located between the Left Atrium and Left Ventricle, preventing backflow from the Left Ventricle to the Left Atrium.
• The Aortic Valve is located between the Left Ventricle and aorta, preventing backflow from the aorta to the Left Ventricle.

Blood Flow

• Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the Right Atrium, then flows into the Right Ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs.
• Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the Left Atrium, then flows into the Left Ventricle, and is pumped to the rest of the body.

Septum and Chambers

• The Septum is a thin wall of tissue that separates the right and left sides of the heart.
• The Right and Left Coronary Arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.