The circulatory system of the body is a one-way road that travels from the heart, out to the organs and extremities and back to the heart. The heart itself has a unidirectional pathway that ensures that blood flow continues traveling in the same direction. By examining the structures of the inner heart, it becomes understandable why this organ is so vital to maintaining blood flow to the rest of the human body.
What does the inside of the heart look like
The heart is divided into four sections, or chambers. The two chambers on the top of the heart are the right and left atria. The right atrium receives blood that has been circulated throughout the body, and the left atrium receives freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs.
The two lower chambers are the ventricles. In order for the blood that has been received in the atria to get to the ventricles, the blood must first pass through a door, or valve, that divides the atrium on each side of the heart to its corresponding ventricle beneath. The valve on the left side of the heart is the bicuspid valve, and the valve on the right is the tricuspid valve. Once the blood passes through these valves, it is now in the ventricles and ready to be pumped to the outside of the heart. There is one more set of valves that leads out of the ventricles called semi-lunar valves. Blood from the right atrium will be sent to the lungs to pick up oxygen, and blood from the left will be sent out to all other areas of the body.
How does the heart pump
The pumping of the heart is controlled by special cells in its muscular walls. These cells, known as the SA Node, are the pacemaker of the heart. These cells start an electrical signal that travels through the right atrium to another concentration of special cells called the AV Node which will cause the two atria to contract. Once the signal reaches this node, it then gets sent down the septum of the heart which is a muscular area that divides the heart into right and left halves. Upon exiting the septum, the signal then travels up both sides of the lower ventricles which causes these two chambers to contract, sending blood outside of the heart to the lungs or rest of the body.
Human survival is dependent on the heart being able to function properly. Delivering nutrient and oxygen rich blood to the body’s cells and tissues ensures that the organs that the cells and tissues make up are kept healthy. Take a minute to think about the importance of your heart and make healthy choices in your diet, exercise routine, and daily living to help keep your heart in great shape.
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