How Does the Heart Work?

• Cardiovascular health is on the decline. One step in the right direction is to understand how the heart works
• The heart is responsible for sending oxygen-rich blood to every extremity of our body. The human heart is a four-chamber heart. Two of these are at the lower level called the left and right ventricles. The upper chambers are called the left and right atria
• Ventricles fill with blood and release to fill the whole body. After blood circulation is complete, it’s back to the atria where some blood will be circulated through the heart itself
• The heart beats about 75 times per minute

The heart is one of the most amazing organs in our bodies. From its central location, it is responsible for making sure that oxygen-rich blood is carried through our arteries and capillaries to every extremity of our bodies. Then the heart takes the blood returned from the veins and makes sure it gets oxygen from the lungs so the entire process can start all over again. In order to better take care of this important organ, and thus your overall health, understanding how it works is key.

Basic Structure of a Heart

The human heart is known as a four-chamber heart. Two of these chambers are located on the lower level of the heart and are called the left and right ventricles. The upper chambers of the heart are the left atria and the right atria. Between the two sides of the heart is a muscular wall known as the septum. Next to the chambers, the valves are other important parts of the heart. Basically, the purpose of valves is to control blood flow. The mitral and the tricuspid valves, for example, open and close to allow blood to move between the atria and the ventricles. On the other hand, the aortic and pulmonary valves control the flow of blood to and from the heart itself.

How a Human Heart Works

Blood is continuously flowing and pumping through our bodies, so determining where to start the explanation for the process can be a challenge. One of the best places to begin would be the ventricles. These chambers fill with blood then release blood back into the body through the rest of the circulatory system. The blood in the ventricles is oxygenated thanks to earlier stages of the process. After the blood has traveled through the body, it returns to the heart via the veins and lands in the atria. From the atria, the pulmonary artery takes the deoxygenated blood to the lungs where it is combined with oxygen. Then the blood is then released into the atria and ends up back in the ventricles so the entire process can begin again. When the oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs into the atria, some of the blood needs to be circulated through the human heart itself. Remember that as an organ in the body the heart also needs oxygen to function efficiently. This blood is transported via the coronary artery.

The Heart Beat

None of the process described above would be possible without the heart beat. What we feel inside us as the beating of our heart is actually the contractions of the heart that are used to pump blood throughout the body. With each beat, our body is releasing oxygen-rich blood into the body and sending oxygen into the lungs. For most people, the heart beats around 75 times per minute. When we become active, however, our bodies need more oxygen-rich blood, so the heart beat increases to meet this need. The heart beat – whether fast or normal – is triggered by a series of electrical impulses that travel through your nervous system into your heart thanks to signals received from the brain.

Because your heart is so important, it’s imperative to take care of it. There are supplements like Take One Multiple which is a mulitvitamin and multimineral that promotes a healthy heart and overall wellness.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.