Orientation of the heart
pointed apex directed toward left hip and rests on the diaphragm, base points toward right shoulder
The human heart is a muscular organ located in the chest, slightly to the left of the midline. Its orientation is such that the base of the heart, where the great vessels enter and leave, is directed towards the right shoulder, while the apex, which is the pointed end of the heart, is directed towards the left hip.
The heart is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium, which consists of two layers: the outer layer called the fibrous pericardium, which is tough and protective, and the inner layer called the serous pericardium, which is thinner and more delicate. The serous pericardium is composed of two layers, the parietal layer, which lines the fibrous pericardium, and the visceral layer, which covers the surface of the heart.
The orientation of the heart is important because it determines the position of the valves, chambers, and blood vessels. Understanding the orientation of the heart can help in the diagnosis and management of cardiac disorders, and in the interpretation of imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI, and echocardiography.
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