Anatomy of a Heart

The heart is a complex organ whose primaryto the posterior and inferior walls of the left
function would be to pump blood via theventricle, arises from the right coronary artery in
pulmonary and systemic circulations. It is80% of individuals (right-dominant circulation) and
composed of four muscular chambers: the mainfrom the circumflex artery within the remainder
pumping chambers, the lead and correct(left-dominant circulation).
ventricles, and the left and right atria, which actContraction from the heart chambers is
like "priming pumps" responsible for the finalcoordinated by a number of regions within the
20-30% of ventricular filling.center that are composed of myocytes with
Peripheral venous return in the inferior andspecialized automaticity (pacemaker) and
superior venae cavae fills the right atrium andconduction properties. Cells within the sinoatrial
ventricle (via the open tricuspid valve). With atrial(SA) node and also the atrioventricular (AV) node
contraction, additional bloodstream flows throughhave quick pacemaker prices (SA node: 60-100
the tricuspid valve and completes the filling of thebeats/min;
suitable ventricle. Unoxygenated blood is thenAV node: 40-70 beats/min), and the His bundle
pumped to the pulmonary artery and lung by theand Purkinje fibers are characterized by rapid
suitable ventricle via the pulmonary valve.rates of conduction. Simply because it has the
Oxygenated blood returns in the lung towards thefastest intrinsic pacemaker rhythm, the SA node
left atrium by way of four pulmonary veins.is usually the site of initiation of the cardiac
Sequential left atrial and ventricular contractionelectrical impulse during a typical heartbeat. The
pumps blood back towards the peripheral tissues.impulse then quickly depolarizes both the left and
The mitral valve separates the left atrium andcorrect atria as it travels towards the AV node.
ventricle, and the aortic valve separates the leadConduction velocity slows from 1 m/s in atrial
ventricle in the aorta The heart lies free within thetissue to 0.05 m/s in nodal tissue. After the delay
pericardial sac, attached to mediastinal structureswithin the AV node, the impulse moves quickly
only at the excellent vessels.down the His bundle (1 m/s) and Purkinje fibers (4
Throughout embryologic development, the heartm/s) to concurrently depolarize the suitable and
invaginates to the pericardial sac like a fist pushingleft ventricles. The atria and ventricles are
into a partially inflated balloon. The pericardial sac isseparated by a fibrous framework that is
composed of a serous inner layer (visceralelectrically inert, to ensure that below typical
pericardium) directly apposed towards theconditions the AV node and the contiguous His
myocardium and a fibrous outer layer known asbundle form the only electrical connection
the parietal pericardium.between the atria and ventricles.
Below typical problems, around 40-50 mL of clearThis arrangement allows the atria and ventricles
fluid, which most likely is an ultrafiltrate of plasma,to beat in a synchronized fashion and minimizes
fills the space in between pericardial sac. The leadthe chance of electric feedback between the
primary and correct coronary arteries arise in thechambers. The electric action of the center can
root from the aorta and provide the principalbe measured in the body surface at standardized
bloodstream supply towards the heart.positions by electrocardiography. On the
The big lead primary coronary artery usuallyelectrocardiogram (ECG), the P wave represents
branches to the lead anterior descending arterydepolarization of atrial tissue; the
and also the circumflex coronary artery. The leftelectrocardiographic wave (QRS) interval,
anterior descending coronary artery provides offventricular depolarization; and the T wave,
diagonal and septal branches that provideventricular repolarization.
bloodstream towards the anterior wall andSimply because typical ventricular depolarization
septum from the center, respectively. Theoccurs almost simultaneously in the suitable and
circumflex coronary artery continues close to thelead ventricles-usually inside 60-100 ms-the QRS
center within the left atrioventricular groove andcomplex is narrow. Even though the electric action
gives off large obtuse marginal arteries thatof the little specialized conduction tissues can't be
provide bloodstream to the lead ventricular freemeasured directly from the surface, the interval
wall.between the P wave and the start from the
The right coronary artery travels in the suitableQRS complicated (PR interval) represents primarily
atrioventricular groove and supplies blood to thethe conduction time from the AV node and His
right ventricle via acute marginal branches. Thebundle.
posterior descending artery, which supplies blood