Anatomy of the Heart
It is situated in the mid mediastinum of the thoracic cavity. Between the lungs, behind the sternum and lies. Approximately 2/3 of the heart is around the left side of the midline.
Shape Conical and the size is about that of a closed fist. Weight: Male: ~300 g and Female: ~250 g.
- Aorta Transfers oxygenated blood to the whole body.
- Pulmonary Artery Pushes the deoxygenated blood out of the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Pulmonary Veins Move oxygenated blood in the lungs into the left atrium.
- Superior Vena Cava Pumps back deoxygenated blood on the upper body into the right atrium.
- Inferior Vena Cava The right atrium delivers deoxygenated blood of the lower part of the body.
- Right Atrium Takes the deoxygenated blood as received by the body.
- Right Ventricle Pumps oxygen free blood to the lungs.
- Left Atrium Oxygenated blood enters it through the lungs.
- Left Ventricle Move oxygen-containing blood throughout the body; its wall is the thickest.
- Tricuspid Valve Eliminates previous backflow of blood of the right ventricle to right atrium.
- Mitral (Bicuspid) Valve Barricades reverse flow of blood between left ventricle and left atrium.
- Pulmonary Valve Irrigates blood in right ventricle to pulmonary artery.
- Aortic Valve Checks the exit of blood out of left ventricle to aorta.
- Chordae Tendineae Fibrous cords which ensure that there is no prolapse of the valves during contraction.
- Papillary Muscles Support valve and anchoring of chordae tendineae.
- Interventricular Septum Divides the left and the right ventricles.
- Apex The left ventricle which is the tip of the heart.