the heart
The heart is the most important member of the human body after the brain, it is the basis of life of the body, the heart is a strong muscle working to pump blood to all parts of the body through a complex network of arteries and veins, and the heart at the center of the rib cage, It is the primary organ of the circulatory system, since it is constantly constricted and constricted, and its cessation means human death.
Heart functions
The heart carries many important functions, the most important of which is the transfer of oxygen and food to all tissues and cells of the body, and the transfer of toxins and waste to the output device, which transfers oxygen from the lungs through the arteries to different parts of the body, and transport the material through the veins to be put through the bladder, the body. It is known that the tissues of the body need a steady supply of nutrition in order to be active, in the absence of the ability of the heart to provide cells and tissues with blood will lead to death.
Heart parts
The heart consists of four compartments: the right atrium, the left atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle. These cells separate a wall of tissue called the septum, covering the heart through a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Blood is pumped through the four chambers through the four valves that open and close to allow the blood to flow only one way. The four valves are:
- LED coronary : The Mitral valve, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
- Pulmonary valve : The Pulmonary valve, located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
- Tri-balconies : The Tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
- Aortic LED : The Aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta.
Mechanism of action of the heart
The heart cycle begins with oxygenated blood that comes from the body and flows to the right atrium. Blood then flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle, which acts as a pump that pumps blood to the lungs. Inside the lungs, blood releases carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs to the faster atrium through the pulmonary veins, and then the blood flows through the left atrium to the left ventricle. Finally, the left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood across the aorta to all parts of the body.
Facts about the heart
- The heart pumps about 4.7 liters of blood every minute of human life. This amount is about six times higher in physical exertion, exercise or stress. Pulse rate per minute, decreases this rate in older people, and increases in children to range from seventy to one hundred and ninety per minute.
- The heart needs oxygen to do its fullest, requiring about seven percent of the oxygen charged through the blood to pump blood efficiently. Any deficiency in this ratio causes anaerobic metabolism, causing severe pain in the chest called angina.
- The weight of the heart ranges from 250-350 grams in females and 300-350 grams in males, and is about the size of the fist of the left hand of the human. It is worth mentioning that athletes are increasing their heart weight to be able to exert the effort to pump more blood.
Heart disease
The heart is exposed to many diseases, including:
- arrhythmia (Arrhythmia), an abnormal arrhythmia in the heartbeat, and there are different types of it. The heart can beat very slowly, with a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute, or very fast, with a stroke rate of more than 100 beats Per minute, or irregularly. Irregular heartbeat affects heart function. The heart may not be able to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.
- Heart failure Heart failure: Heart failure is sometimes called congestive heart failure. It means the inability of the heart to pump enough blood into the body.
- Arteriosclerosis : Atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when a plaque called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries, narrowing the arteries, making it difficult to flow blood through these arteries. If the blood clot forms in these arteries, blood flow can stop, and this can cause a heart attack or stroke.
- A heart attack occurs when the blood clot occurs in a part that causes the flow of blood to stop to a part of the heart. If this blood clot completely cuts off part of the heart, this part will die. Most people survive the first heart attack, but they have to change their lifestyle according to the doctor’s advice, depending on the extent of heart damage.
- Stroke occurs when the flow of blood stops in the blood vessels that feed the brain, leading to the death of this part of the brain cells, and thus inability to perform certain tasks, such as walking and talking. The most likely cause of a stroke is uncontrolled hypertension.
- Heart valve diseases : There are two main types of heart valve diseases, namely:
- Stenosis: It occurs when the heart valves do not open enough to allow blood flow.
- Regurgitation: It occurs if the valves do not close properly, resulting in a leakage of blood.
- Metral Valve Prolapse (Mitral Valve Prolapse), which occurs when valve gates are inflated or relaxed, in which case the valves do not close properly, allowing the blood to flow back through them. Therefore, the heart must be preserved by eating foods that strengthen and maintain its health, such as vegetables and fruits, and foods rich in antioxidants, which do not contain harmful cholesterol.