The heart

The heart

The human heart functions as a muscular pump that circulates blood throughout the body. Although
it shares some similarities with hydraulic systems, it is a complex organ with unique features and
mechanisms. I can provide you with a general overview of how the human heart works and draw
some comparisons to hydraulic systems.

The human heart consists of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. These chambers are
separated by valves that ensure blood flow in one direction.

1. Atrial Contraction: The cardiac cycle begins with the contraction of the atria. This contraction
forces the blood into the ventricles through the atrioventricular (AV) valves, namely the mitral valve
(between the left atrium and left ventricle) and the tricuspid valve (between the right atrium and
right ventricle). The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood into the atria during ventricular
contraction.

2. Ventricular Contraction: The ventricles then contract, allowing blood to be pumped out of the
heart. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation (the body's main
blood supply), while the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary circulation (to
the lungs for oxygenation).

3. Semilunar Valve Action: As the ventricles contract, the pressure inside increases, causing the
semilunar valves to open. The aortic valve connects the left ventricle to the aorta (the largest artery),
and the pulmonary valve connects the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. These valves prevent
the backflow of blood into the ventricles when they relax.

4. Relaxation and Filling: After contraction, the ventricles relax, and the semilunar valves close to
prevent blood from flowing back into the heart. The relaxation phase allows the chambers to refill
with blood from the atria, and the cycle begins again.

Now, let's draw some comparisons to hydraulic systems:

- The heart's contraction can be likened to the action of a hydraulic pump that builds pressure to
move fluid (blood) through a closed system (blood vessels).

- The valves in the heart, both AV valves and semilunar valves, function similarly to hydraulic valves
that regulate the flow of fluid in one direction.

- The pressure generated by the heart's contractions can be compared to the pressure exerted by a
hydraulic pump in a hydraulic system.

However, it's important to note that the human heart is a much more sophisticated and complex
organ than a simple hydraulic system. It operates with intricately coordinated electrical signals,
specialized muscle fibres, and regulatory mechanisms that ensure efficient and controlled blood
circulation throughout the body.

Hydropneumatic simple heart design

with it’s circuit
Body Lung

Check valve
PV MV

TV AOV