The Anatomy and Function of the Heart: Understanding the Vital Organ’s Four Chambers and Electrical Regulation

What is true of the heart?

Functions as a dual pump (for pulmonary and systemic circuits)

The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It is located in the thoracic cavity, slightly to the left of the midline and is about the size of a closed fist in an adult. The heart has four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle, which then pumps the blood to the lungs for oxygenation. The oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium, and then the left ventricle pumps it out to the rest of the body. The heart is regulated by electrical impulses, which are generated by the sinoatrial node and travel through the heart, coordinating the contraction of the chambers. The heart is a vital organ, and any dysfunction can lead to serious health problems.

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