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Monitor with heartbeat signal

Our Heart and its Capabilities

by Aneri Shethji

The heart is widely recognized as one of the most vital organs in the body, but what exactly is it? The heart is a muscular organ that is found in the chest. It also serves as the hub of the circulatory system. This is the collection of interconnected bodily components that work together to carry blood from our brains to our toes. Blood serves a variety of functions, from clotting wounds to combating infections, so it’s critical that it gets where it needs to go.

Our heart is made up of muscles. It’s about the size of our fist and weighs under a pound. It’s on the left side of our chest, around the center. Blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and throughout the body. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients throughout our body.

There are three layers to your heart muscle:

  • Pericardium: The pericardium is the outer layer that surrounds the myocardium.
  • Myocardium: The thickest and central layer of the heart.
  • Endocardium: The endocardium is a thin layer that lines the inside of the myocardium.

There are four chambers in a typical heart. A wall separates the right and left sides of the heart. The heart is split into two chambers on each side. The atrium is the top chamber, while the ventricle is the lower chamber. Valves that open and seal divide these compartments.

Our heart moves in a constant cycle, and it’s very efficient.

  1. Blood comes into the right atrium and moves into the right ventricle to be pumped into the lungs.
  2. The arteries in the lungs pick up oxygen before returning it to the left side of the heart.
  3. The left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of your body via the aorta, the biggest artery.
  4. Cells take oxygen from your blood so that it may be utilized by your body.
  5. The cycle repeats by circulating blood back into the right atrium.

Each pulse initiates this magnificent cycle. This is how we take in nutrients and get rid of waste, through the blood pumped by the heart. Our heart is a spectacular organ with so many capabilities. It’s important we take care of it since it protects us and functions in so many ways.

Source:

All about the Heart – Osumc.edu.

Scientific Peer Review by Alysia Mandato

Aneri Shethji:

Aneri Shethji is a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She is very passionate about science and writing and enjoys getting involved with the community. In her free time, Aneri spends time with friends and family and loves getting outside. She can’t wait to learn more about all that science has to offer, and help others learn it too!

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