Heart Anatomy
The Anatomy of Your Heart
Usually thought of as just a muscle, your heart is actually an organ that consists of many different tissues working in a highly coordinated system. The heart is in fact simply a pump; possibly the most important, self-sustaining pump on Earth. In a healthy heart, the precision of the pumping mechanism is meticulous and sufficient.
The Chambers
The heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers are called the atria, and the two lower chambers are called the ventricles. The right atria and ventricle receive oxygen poor blood from the body and pump oxygen deficient blood into the lungs to be oxygenated. The left atria and ventricle receive oxygen rich blood from the lungs and pump the oxygenated blood into the body.
The Valves
Your heart has four valves:
- The tricuspid valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle
- The pulmonary valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
- The mitral valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle
- The aortic valve between the left ventricle and the aorta
Within each valve is a set of cusps (or flaps). The mitral valve has two cusps, and the rest of the three valves have 3 cusps. When there is a difference in pressure across the valves, the cusps open to let blood flow from one side of the valve to the other side. After the chambers contract, pumping the blood through the valves, the valves shut causing the thumping sound heard through a stethoscope.
The Electrical System
Your heart also has an electrical system. The electrical system is responsible for cardiac conduction. Cardiac conduction initiates and regulates the electrical impulses that control the mechanisms of contraction and relaxation of the heart muscles.
The sinoatrial (SA) node, which initiates electrical impulses, is located atop the right atrium. The electrical impulses pass across the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node which sits between the atria and the ventricles. The electrical impulses then travel down the atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His) which resides above the right and left ventricles. The impulses continue to travel along the right and left crus along the interventricular septum and through the Purkinje's fibers.
The Coronary Arteries and Cardiac Veins
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle (myocardium) with oxygen rich blood. The right and left coronary arteries are fed oxygen rich blood from the base of the aorta. This ensures that the heart receives blood before any other organ which safeguards its own survival - which in turn ensures that blood can be supplied to the rest of the body.
The cardiac veins are the blood vessels that transport oxygen poor blood from the heart muscle back to the superior vena cava that feeds the right atrium.
Heart Health is Important
In a healthy heart, the chambers, the valves, and the electrical system work in a highly coordinated rhythm to pump blood through the vascular system to the rest of your body. When disease or disorder affects any component of the intricate inner workings of any part of the cardiac anatomy, the entire pumping mechanism is compromised.
The surgeons at Western Cardiovascular Associates are pioneers in the treatment of heart disease and cardiovascular disorders. Learn about their innovative, cutting-edge, therapies and how they utilize state-of-the-art technology to provide unparalleled treatment options in a compassionate and caring environment. Whether you live in Salt Lake City, Ogden, or Utah Valley, or anywhere in the country, contact Western Cardiovascular Associates or call 801-743-4750 today.