Structure of human heart and blood vessels

Introduction

The human heart is an important organ made up of muscles. It is located in the middle of the chest and tilts to the left. Its main function is to clean the blood and pump it throughout the body. The heart of a woman beats 8 times more than that of men. 

The human heart is located in the middle of our circulatory system, which keeps the blood flowing around the body in a beating. Blood transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and carries out unwanted CO2 and waste products. The unique structure of the human heart makes it a major organ of the cardiovascular system.

Appearance of human heart

According to Henry Gray’s “Anatomy of the Human Body,” the human heart is around the size of a large fist. It weighs between 10 and 12 ounces (280 and 340 grammes) in males and 8 to 10 ounces (230 and 280 grammes) in women. The physiology of the heart, according to Phillips, is “structure, electrical and plumbing.”

 The human heart contains four chambers: two upper chambers (the atria) and two lower chambers (the ventricles). The “right heart” is made up of the right atrium and right ventricle, whereas the “left heart” is made up of the left atrium and left ventricle. The septum is a muscle wall that separates the two sides of the heart.

Structure of Human Heart 

The heart is such a muscle whose size is slightly larger than a fist. Like other muscles of the body, it keeps on contracting and expanding. Whenever the heart is extended, it is extended with full force, while the other limbs are extended depending on the sequence. Whenever blood is pumped from the heart to other organs, the reaction is called the cardiac cycle, which occurs 72 times in a minute. 

A double-layered membrane called the pericardium serves as a covering for the heart.  The outer layer of the pericardium is called the parietal pericardium and the inner layer is called the serous pericardium – contains the pericardial fluid that protects the heart from their effects during contraction and movement of the lungs and diaphragm.

The outer layer of the human heart has three layers. The outer layer is called the epicardium.  The middle layer is called the myocardium. Inside these layers are found muscles that keep contracting. The endocardium’s inner lining comes into contact with the blood.

Atrioventricular valves, which are made up of the tricuspid valve and mitral valve, work to connect the arteries and ventricles. The right ventricle and pulmonary artery are separated by the pulmonary semilunar valve. The aortic ventricle performs the function of separating the left ventricle from the aorta.

Internal structure of heart

The heart is situated in the thoracic cavity between the lungs. It is surrounded by double pericardium. The space between the two membranes is filled with pericardial fluid.

The auricle is divided into right and left atrium by an interauricular septum. On the intra-atrial septum, there is an oval septum called fossa ovalis. In the right atrium, there are holes for the posterior aorta and the anterior aorta. 

The Eustachian valve is at the opening of the posterior vein. There is a coronary sinus near the opening of the anterior ventricle. The coronary valve or Thebesian valve (auriculo ventricular node) is located at this hole. 

In the right atrium, there is a pulse centre or pacemaker near the openings of the anterior and posterior auricles. This starts the contraction process in the heart. The auriculo ventricular node is located on the intra-atrial septum. It transmits the waves of heart contraction to the ventricles. In the left atrium, both pulmonary veins open through a combined orifice.

Human heart function

  • The main function of the heart is pumping blood, that is, to transport blood throughout the body.
  • The veins in the blood circulatory system bring impure blood to the right atrium.
  • Then, that blood goes to the right ventricle through the Trivalini valve.
  • Following this, the same impure blood goes to the lungs for purification with the help of the pulmonary artery.
  • Once the blood reaches the lungs, the oxygen, present in the lungs, helps to purify it.
  • The purified blood goes to the right atrium with the help of the pulmonary vein.
  • From the tricuspid valve, the blood travels to the right ventricle.
  • With the help of arteries, pure blood flows throughout the body.
  • Pure blood flows through the arteries and pulmonary vein.
  • Impure blood flows through the veins and pulmonary artery.

Blood vessels

There are different types of blood vessels to carry out the function of transportation in our body. The classification of blood vessels is as follows: 

Artery

The blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the other parts of the body are called arteries. For example, the aorta and pulmonary artery.  

Vein

These blood vessels carry blood from the other parts of the body to the heart. For example,Superior or Inferior Vena cava

Capillary

These blood vessels connect the arteries and veins.

Conclusion

The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body. The human heart is protected by the ribs and is located in your chest. Cardiology is the study of a person’s heart and its numerous ailments.

The heart chakra is the area in the body where the heart beats quicker. When the heart contracts, it shrinks the chambers and pushes blood into the blood arteries. The chambers expand and return the blood to the heart after the heart has rested. The muscle cells decrease as a result of the electricity that flows through the heart. From this, it can be inferred that the heart is the most important organ in our body.