Your Heart
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Your heart is a vital organ.
The function of the heart is to circulate (pump) blood throughout the body to provide oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste products. The heart pumps deoxygenated blood through the lungs to release carbon dioxide and collect oxygen.
The heart
- is a muscle about the size of your fist.
- weighs approximately one pound.
- is located behind and slightly to the left of the breastbone.
- pumps about 5 litres of blood every minute, or 7000 liters of blood every day.
Your Heart's Structure
Your heart has four chambers:
- Two smaller, upper chambers (the right and left atria)
- Two larger, lower pumping chambers (the right and left ventricles
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One-way valves separate the upper and lower chambers of your heart to ensure the forward motion of blood. Your heart is separated into right and left sides, with each side performing a unique function:
- The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and sends it to the lungs to pick up oxygen.
- The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and sends it through arteries to the rest of the body to deliver oxygen to other vital organs such as the brain and kidneys.
Coronary Arteries
As a working muscle, your heart also needs a regular supply of nutrients and oxygen to be healthy and continue functioning properly.
Coronary arteries are the vessels that carry oxygen-filled blood to the muscles working in your heart.
You have two coronary arteries: a right and left. These arteries branch from the aorta and run down along the surface of your heart.
The left coronary artery further branches into the circumflex and left anterior descending artery. |
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When they are healthy, coronary arteries provide sufficient oxygen for the needs of your heart. If these arteries become blocked or narrowed, the result is a reduced oxygen supply to the heart. Treatment is usually required to restore blood flow.
Coronary Artery Disease is a condition that reduces oxygenated blood flow to the heart. If you or a loved one is suffering from CAD, discuss treatment options with your physician.
Last update: 31.07.2005
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