Introduction to the Heart
Mammalian heart structure
- The heart is a hollow, muscular organ located in the chest cavity
- The heart is divided into four chambers
- The two top chambers are atria
- The bottom two chambers are ventricles
- The left and right sides of the heart are separated by a wall of muscular tissue called the septum.
- The septum is very important for ensuring blood doesn’t mix between the left and right sides of the heart
- Valves are important for keeping blood flowing forward in the right direction and stopping it flowing backwards. They are also important for maintaining the correct pressure in the chambers of the heart
- The atria and ventricles are separated by the atrioventricular valves
- The ventricles and the arteries that leave the heart are separated by semi-lunar valves
- The right ventricle and the pulmonary artery are separated by the pulmonary valve
- The left ventricle and aorta are separated by the aortic valve
- There are two blood vessels bringing blood to the heart; the vena cava and pulmonary vein
- There are two blood vessels taking blood away from the heart; the pulmonary artery and aorta
The human heart has four chambers and is separated into two halves by the septum