A layman’s guide to the heart
The heart is a vital and complex organ which helps in the circulation of blood throughout your body. It pumps blood throughout our lifetime. This pumping organ is as important to our body as the brain. Any minor damage to this structure could lead to fatal effects.
What is a heart?
The heart is a hollow muscular organ which lies on the upper part of the left side of our body. This organ pumps blood at a regular interval by which deoxygenated (blood with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide) blood is oxygenated (blood with high oxygen and low carbon dioxide) so that our organs can receive oxygen for their function.
Normal anatomy of the heart
- The heart is usually the size of a closed fist
- It weighs about 250 - 350 gms
- It beats about 60 - 100 beats per minute
- It pumps roughly 5 liters of blood per minute
The heart has 4 chambers
- Upper chamber is called atrium and consists of right and left atrium
- Lower chamber is called ventricle and consists of right and left ventricle
The Heart consists of 4 valves (leaf-like structures that restrict the flow of blood between each chamber) which ensure flow of blood occurs in a single direction
- Tricuspid valve (Between the right atrium and right ventricle)
- Pulmonary valve (Between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery)
- Mitral valve (Between the left atrium and left ventricle)
- Aortic valve (Between the left ventricle and aorta)
The heart is made up of 3 layers called
- Epicardium (Outermost protective layer)
- Myocardium (Middle muscular layer)
- Endocardium (Innermost layer)
The heart is surrounded by a fluid-filled layer called pericardium which contains fluid called pericardial fluid which protects the heart.
How does the heart work?
The circulation occurs in this manner:
Body (Deoxygenated blood) 
Right atrium Tricuspid valve Right ventricle Pulmonary valve Pulmonary arteries Lungs (Oxygenated) Pulmonary veins Left atrium Bicuspid valve Left ventricle Aortic valve Aorta Body (Oxygenated blood)
The heart expands and contracts with each beat and creates the characteristic ‘LUBB DUBB’ sound.
- Systole (LUBB sound) - Contraction of the heart
- Diastole (DUBB sound) - Relaxation of the heart
This is regulated by electric signals produced by Sinoatrial (SA) node (natural pacemaker) present on the inner walls of right atrium.
The arterial pressure
Pressure is created within the blood vessels called arteries whenever the heart contracts and relaxes. This is called systolic (pressure when heart contracts) and diastolic (pressure when heart relaxes) blood pressure.
Normally it is 120 for systolic BP and 80 for diastolic BP and is represented as 120/80 mmHg.
Why heart health matters
Healthy heart function is essential for:
- Brain activity
- Kidney filtration
- Muscle performance
- Immune response
- Tissue healing
Common heart problems
- Hypertension - High pressure in the blood vessels
- Valve diseases - Defect in valve which either constricts blood flow or causes backflow of blood
- Endocarditis, Pericarditis - Inflammation of the layers of the heart
- Congenital heart disease - Defect of the heart structure at birth
- Heart attack - Restriction of blood flow to heart
Heart failure - Inability of the heart to function
Risk factors for heart disease
Common risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Chronic inflammation
How to save your heart?
- Heart-friendly diet
- Regular exercises
- Monitoring blood pressure and lipids
- Reduce stress
- Regulate the circadian rhythm
- Limiting smoking and alcohol
References
-
Guyton AC, Hall JE.
Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier. -
Braunwald E, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP.
Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Elsevier. -
American Heart Association.
Heart Anatomy, Function, and Diseases. -
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Heart Diseases and Conditions.
What more important information does a layman ask about regarding the heart?