The first step in understanding the heart is learning about the heart itself--its anatomy and functions. By pumping blood through an intricate system of blood vessels, the heart muscle is responsible for bringing life-giving oxygen to every cell in the body. In order to truely understand the passage of blood through the heart, we have to have a basic understanding of the anatomy of the heart and it's associated structures. In order to provide this for you, I've brought some information to you from some of the best Cardiology sites I've found!




NORMAL HEART ANATOMY


The normal heart has four chambers - the right and left Atrium and the right and left Ventricles. The atriums collect blood after it returns to the heart via veins. Blood from the circulation round the body returns into the right atrium and from the "Lung" circulation to the left atrium. From the atriums, blood passes to the ventricles, which pump it out, under pressure. The right ventricle pumps into the lung circulation and the left ventricle into the main circulation . The flow of blood is controlled by the heart valves.


HEART VALVES


The four heart valves are all "non return" valves. They function like 'one way swing doors'. They open to allow blood to pass through and close to prevent blood going backwards. The Mitral and Tricuspid valves allow blood to enter the ventricles, in between each heart beat. The Aortic and Pulmonary valves allow blood to be pumped out into the Great Arteries (Aorta and Pulmonary Artery) with each beat.





Now that you've had a look at the basic heart and it's valves, lets take a closer look at the structures of the heart.........


VENAE CAVAE These two veins are the largest in the body; they carry de-oxygenated blood (blood without oxygen) to the right atrium of the heart.

RIGHT ATRIUM The upper right chamber of the heart squeezes de-oxygenated blood through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle.

TRICUSPID VALVE Found between the right atrium and the right ventricle that allows blood to flow in one direction only.

RIGHT VENTRICLE The lower right chamber of the heart contracts and sends the blood through the pulmonary artery.

PULMONARY VESSELS The pulmonary artery carries blood to the lungs where the blood loses carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen. The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood to the left atrium of the heart.

LEFT ATRIUM The upper left chamber of the heart contracts and sends oxygenated blood through the mitral valve to the left ventricle.

MITRAL VALVE Found between the left atrium and the left ventricle that allows blood to flow in one direction only.

LEFT VENTRICLE The lower left chamber of the heart pumps the oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve into the aorta.

AORTIC VALVE Found between the left ventricle and the aorta that allows blood to flow in one direction only.

AORTA The largest artery in the body. Branches off in numerous smaller arteries that carry oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.



OK......so do you think you have a handle on heart anatomy now??

GOOD!!!!!!!!!!


Then why not try your hand at this little quize provided by WEBANATOMY and see just how well you do!!!!

WebAnatomy
Anterior Internal Heart
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Resource Credits:
Blood Cells and the Anatomy of the Heart
WebAnatomy
A Lay Persons Guide To Heart Anatomy