The 17 parts of the heart (and their functions)
The human body is made up of several organs that perform specific functions to keep us healthy. But, without a doubt, the heart is one of the most important, since its main function is to supply both nutrients and oxygen to all the cells of the body, thanks to the pumping of blood. This is very necessary for the other organs and tissues to be able to carry out their functions effectively.
When we touch our chest we feel and hear a series of beats that indicates that we are alive and full of energy, these sounds are the pulsations of our heart, a hollow organ but extremely important. This beat makes us suppose that there is a magnificent coordination between the movement of the heart and the proper functioning of each of its parts.
- We recommend you read: "12 tips to take care of your heart and keep it healthy"
So In this article you will know everything related to the parts of the heart and the functions that each of them employs to keep him alive.
How does the heart work?
The heart not only provides oxygen but also has the function of collecting the blood without oxygen that remains after the cells have consumed it, allowing the elimination of wastes such as carbon dioxide carbon. This organ is of vital importance since if it stops performing its functions, the consequence is death.
It is made up of muscle tissue that allows you to perform two movements that are responsible for the constant pumping of blood to the body and these movements are:
Contraction or systole, is a movement that allows blood to be displaced through the arteries with a great force that makes it reach all the tissues and organs of the body.
Dilation or diastole, movement that makes the blood return back to the heart but this time through the veins.
The heart, in addition to functioning as a pump that allows the blood to be propelled, also allows the right atrium to release a peptide hormone when a increased compliance of the cardiac chambers, which causes a large elimination of urine and sodium through the kidneys a dilation of the vessels blood.
Parts of the heart and their functions
The human heart is the size of a fist, its weight ranges between 250 and 300 grams in the case of women and in men it is in a range between 300 and 350 grams.
It is located in the center of the rib cage and surrounded by the lungs, representing approximately 0.40% of body weight. Next we will know the parts of the cardiac anatomy, and the functions they perform.
1. Right atrium
It is one of the four cavities that the heart has and its function is to receive the oxygen-free blood that comes from the vena cavae and then send it to the right ventricle.
2. Left atrium
It is connected to the pulmonary veins, which allows it to receive blood that has a high percentage of oxygen and is later transferred to the left ventricle.
3. Right ventricle
This part of the heart has the function of receiving blood without oxygen that comes from the right atrium, which is sent to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is eliminated and thus the oxygenated blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins.
4. Left ventricle
Its function is to collect oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and send it throughout the body through the aorta artery.
5. Mitral valve
It is responsible for separating and communicating the left atrium with the left ventricle and blood circulates between these areas due to the opening produced by the systole of the atrium.
6. Tricuspid valve
It fulfills the function of separating the right atrium from the right ventricle, the passage of blood is does through its opening, it also has the function of preventing the blood from returning once closed.
7. Aortic sigmoid valve
This valve opens at the time of contraction or systole and closes with dilation or diastole, separates the aorta from the left ventricle and allows oxygenated blood to reach all the body.
8. Pulmonary sigmoid valve
It is responsible for separating the right ventricle from the pulmonary arteries and at the time of ventricular systole, it opens and facilitates the passage of blood to the respiratory system.
9. Interventricular septum
It is a muscle tissue that has the function of separating both ventricles.
10. Interatrial septum
It is a muscular wall that allows the separation of the atria.
11. Atrioventricular or Aschoff-Tawara node
It is a fundamental part since it is responsible for the heartbeat, in the same way, it allows the conduction of the electrical impulse produced in the sinus node and prevents the ventricles from contracting before blood from the atria can pass to they.
12. Sinus or sinoatrial node
It is located in the upper part of the right atrium and its function is to generate the electrical impulses that make the heart to contract, causing the heartbeat to occur and blood to flow to the organs and tissues.
13. His bundle and Purkinje fibers
These tissues are responsible for conducting the electrical impulse throughout the heart and thus ensure that the heartbeat can reach all the cavities.
14. Papillary muscles
The papillary muscles are located in the two ventricles, originate in the endocardium, and extend to the tricuspid and mitral valves. Its function is to act as a tensioner at the time of contraction in order to prevent the passage of blood to the atria.
15. Tendon cords
Also called cardiac cords and have the function of allowing the connection between the papillary muscles with the mitral and tricuspid valves to be effected efficiently.
16. Oval foramen
It is an opening that is found between the two atria during the development of the fetus, in this process the two atria meet united, but that before reaching the first year of life, this hole must be completely closed since the interatrial septum tissue is seals. If it is not closed, this generates serious health problems.
17. Moderator band
It is located only in the right ventricle and its function is to help the papillary muscle to carry out its work, in the same way it regulates and facilitates the transmission of the electrical impulse.
Veins that make up the heart
The heart is also made up of a series of arteries and veins that, even when they are not properly part of it, they have direct contact with this organ and allow the correct flow of blood.
1. Pulmonary veins
They are blood vessels whose function is to collect oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and carry it back to the left atrium. They are the only veins in the human body that carry oxygen-laden blood.
2. Pulmonary arteries
Its main role is to collect oxygen-depleted blood from the right ventricle and transport it to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is removed through respiration. They are the only arteries through which blood devoid of nutrients and oxygen circulate.
3. Vein cavas
They are responsible for collecting oxygen-depleted blood from the different tissues, to return it to the right atrium to begin oxygenation again.
4. Aorta artery
It is the largest and main artery in the human body and its function is to carry blood with nutrients and oxygen to all organs and tissues. It also has three membranes that cover it.
4.1. The pericardium
It is the outer membrane that covers the heart, it is a viscous layer with a large amount of tissue fat as a bag that covers and protects the heart and from there the veins and arteries are born before described.
4.2. The myocardium
It represents the muscle tissue of the heart and is made up of a group of cells called cardiomyocytes (contractile muscle cells with cylinder-shaped containing myofibrils) and its function is to allow the contraction of the heart, which also has four properties main.
Bathmotropism or excitability, which is a depolarization capacity to then generate action potentials before the arrival of an electrical stimulus.
Inotropism or contractibility, is the function of the heart to contract.
Chronotropism or automatism, this property allows to automatically generate action potentials.
Dromotropism or conductivityThrough this property, this organ can transmit electrical impulses through its electrical conduction system.
4.3. The endocardium
It is a membrane that covers the inner part of the heart and its function is to cover and protect both the ventricles and the atria.
These parts serve different purposes but in turn one depends on each other so that the heart can function correctly and we must take care of this organ avoiding exposing it to great pressure and efforts. To do this, we must have a calm lifestyle that involves a balanced diet, the practice of some sporting activity and have a time of entertainment and leisure.