The Cardiovascular System
The heart is a muscular organ that is
essential for life because it pumps blood
through the body.
The heart is a member organ of the
cardiovascular system, which consists of
the
heart, blood vessels, and blood.
The heart of a healthy adult, at rest, pumps
approximately 5 liters (L) of blood per
minute.
For most people, the heart continues to
pump at approximately that rate for more
than 75 years.
The Cardiovascular System
The heart is a member organ of the
cardiovascular system, which consists of
the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
The heart is actually two pumps in one,
with the heart’s right side pumping to the
lungs and back to the left side of the heart
through vessels of the pulmonary
circulation.
The left side of the heart pumps blood to all
other tissues of the body and back to the
right side of the heart through vessels of the
systemic circulation.
The Cardiovascular System
The heart is a member organ of the
cardiovascular system, which consists of
the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
The heart is actually two pumps in one,
with the heart’s right side pumping to the
lungs and back to the left side of the heart
through vessels of the pulmonary
circulation.
The left side of the heart pumps blood to all
other tissues of the body and back to the
right side of the heart through vessels of the
systemic circulation.
Functions of the Heart
1. Generates blood pressure
2. Routes blood
3. Ensures one-way blood flow
4. Regulates blood supply
Heart Characteristics
Size: size of a fist and weighs
less than 1 lb.
Location: between lungs in thoracic cavity
Orientation: apex (bottom) towards left side
Pericardia
Pericardium: double-layered sac that
anchors and protects heart
Parietal pericardium: membrane around heart’s
cavity
Visceral pericardium: membrane on heart’s
surface
Pericardial cavity: space around heart
Heart External Anatomy
A coronary sulcus extends around the heart,
separating the atria from the ventricles.
Two grooves, or sulci, which indicate the
division between the right and left ventricles,
extend inferiorly from the coronary sulcus.
The anterior interventricular sulcus extends
inferiorly from the coronary sulcus on the
anterior surface of the heart.
Heart External Anatomy
The pulmonary trunk, arising from the right
ventricle, splits into the right and left pulmonary
arteries, which carry blood to the lungs.
The aorta arising from the left ventricle, carries
blood to the rest of the body.
Heart Chambers
Four Chambers:
• left atrium (LA)
• right atrium (RA)
• left ventricle (LV)
• right ventricle (RV)
Coronary sulcus:
• separates atria from ventricles
The Atria
Superior chambers
Holding chambers
Small, thin walled
Contract minimally to push blood into ventricles
Interatrial septum:
• separates right and left atria
