Structure, Function and Diseases of the Human Heart

Ishita Gupta, Gunjan Kundra, Pinky,Dr. Manjula Suri

Department of Physiology and Promo Health, Institute of Home Economics, New Delhi
The Heart is a roughly cone-shaped hollow muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the human body through the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the
tissues and removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. It is about 10 cm long and weighs about 225g in women and 310 g in men. It lies in the thoracic cavity in the space
between the lungs (mediastinum) anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to sternum. It lies obliquely a little more to left than right. It is about the size of our own fist.

Macroscopic structure of Heart: -

The Heart is divided into four chambers namely two ventricles and two atria. The upper two chambers are called atrium and the lower two chambers are called ventricles. The
ventricles are the chambers that pump blood and atrium are the chambers that receive blood. Among which both right atrium and ventricle make up the “right heart” and the left
atrium and ventricle make up the “left heart”. The right and the left region of the heart are separated by the wall of muscle called septum.
Pulmonary Arteries: - They are the Fig: - Macroscopic structure of heart (Anterior) Fig: - Macroscopic structure of heart (Posterior)
arteries in the pulmonary circulation
that carries deoxygenated blood
from the right side of the heart to the
lungs.
Pulmonary Veins: - They are the
veins that transfer oxygenated blood
from the lungs to the heart.
Aorta: - It distributes oxygenated
blood to all parts of the body through
the systemic circulation.
Venae cavae: - They are two large
veins that return deoxygenated blood
from the body into the heart. In
humans there are the superior vena
cava and the inferior vena cava.

Microscopic structure of Fig: - Microscopic structure of heart

Heart: -
Heart is composed of three layers
of tissue: -
Pericardium: - It is a double walled
layer which encloses the heart,
between two layers is filled the
pericardial fluid which prevents heart
from shock and mechanical injury.
Myocardium: - It is the muscular
middle layer of the wall of the heart.
Endocardium: - It is the inner layer of
the heart which lines the chamber
and valves of the heart.

Blood Supply to the Heart:-

Arterial supply:- The heart is supplied with arterial blood by the right and left coronary arteries , which branch from the aorta immediately distal to the aortic valve.
Venous drainage: - Most of the venous blood is collected into a number of cardiac veins that join to form the coronary sinus, which opens into right atrium. The remainder
passes directly into the heart chambers through little venous channels.
Nerve Supply to the Heart: - The heart is influenced by autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nerves originating in the cardiovascular centre in the medulla
oblongata. The vagus nerve (parasympathetic) supplies mainly the SA and AV nodes and atrial muscle. Vagal stimulation reduces the rate of SA node firing, decreasing the rate
and the force of the heartbeat. Sympathetic nerves supply the SA and AV nodes and myocardium and stimulation increases the rate and the force of heartbeat.

Function of Heart:- Heart circulates blood through two pathways:- Diseases of Heart: -
Pulmonary Circuit :- It carries deoxygenated blood away from the right 1. Coronary Heart disease: -
ventricle of the heart, to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the left Coronary artery becomes
atrium and ventricle of the heart. damaged or diseased often due
Systemic Circuit: - It carries blood away from heart, delivers to most of the to build up of cholesterol or as a
organs (excluding the lungs) and tissues and returns to heart again. result of inflammation.

Fig:- Function of Heart

2. Heart Arrhythmias: - In this
heartbeat is irregular, too fast
(Tachycardia) or too slow
(Bradycardia)

3. Cardiomyopathy: - It is a
disease of heart muscle that
makes it harder for heart to
pump blood to the rest of the
body.

References: -
Human Physiology for Dental Students by Prof. A K Jain
Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness by Ross and Wilson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart