The heart is the main organ of our body. It is on how it works, in what condition it is, and human health depends. And the function of the heart is a very broad topic, with which everyone should at least be superficially familiar.
Structural features
So, the first thing to note is that this organ is located on the left side of the chest. Although there is a small group of completely unique people in our world, their heart is on the right side. Typically, such individuals have a very peculiar structure of the body, that is, a mirror. And, accordingly, the heart is also opposite to the usual arrangement.
In general, this organ consists of four cavities - from the left and right atria, as well as from the ventricles. These cameras are divided by partitions. The heart is distinguished by a rather peculiar structure. The figure on which the organ is depicted accurately shows what it is. But cavities are not the most important thing. The valves responsible for blood flow deserve special attention.
Location of the heart valves
The first thing to say about this part of the heart is that the pulmonary veins go to the left atrium , and the hollow veins go to the right. From the right and left ventricles comes the ascending aorta, as well as the pulmonary trunk. So, this topic is worth considering in more detail. The left ventricle is divided with the atrium (located on the same side) by the mitral valve, which is also called bicuspid. And the right one is divided with the atrium by the tricuspid valve. Even in the heart, the drawing of which allows us to examine in detail the structure of this organ, there are aortic and pulmonary valves. They are responsible for the process of leakage of blood from the notorious ventricles.
Blood circulation process
What is the most important heart function? Naturally, blood circulation. Without this, the body could not fully function. Everyone knows that the heart carries out two circles of blood circulation - small and large. The first of these begins in the right ventricle, and its end is in the left atrium. He is responsible for the full gas exchange in the alveoli of the lungs. Regarding the second, it is worth noting that the large circle begins in the left ventricle, and ends, as you might guess, in the right atrium. He is responsible for providing blood not only to the lungs, but also to other human organs. All this is fully implemented only with a healthy heart.
Valve in action
Much has been said about the valves and what function the heart performs. Their work should be clear and coherent. After all, the pumping function of the heart depends on the valves, which together form a whole mechanism. The tricuspid opens - and the blood passes into the right ventricle from the atrium. As soon as it is filled with blood, the valve closes under the influence of muscle pressure. And then the blood can exit only through the pulmonary trunk, into which the pulmonary valve opens, which opens under the pressure of the blood, which rises during the contraction of the right ventricle. And blood can enter there only if the mitral valve is open . The entrance to the aorta is closed by an aortic valve, consisting of three valves, which resemble the appearance of crescents. When the left ventricle is relaxed - it is closed, and so the venous blood passes into the right atrium. Thus, blood circulation is carried out. Of course, in words it all takes a very long time, but in reality it takes only a moment. Our heart works so fast.
Facts to Know
The structure and functions of this body are not only important, they are also interesting. So, for example, not everyone knows that blood circulation is carried out about 100,000 times a day at a distance of about 100,000 kilometers! Amazingly, it is precisely such a length that all the vessels of our body make up. And if we talk about how many times a year our heart contracts, then here the indicators are simply astronomical - more than 34 million! And finally, the latest data - during this time period, the heart pumps three million liters of blood. This is an incredible amount. So, if you ask yourself a question about what function the heart performs, then we can definitely say that it is vital. And does a gigantic job for this. It is worth noting one more nuance: one single reduction takes such an amount of energy that would be enough to lift a load of 400 grams of weight to a height of 1 meter. And this is also taking into account the fact that the heart, being in a calm state, spends only 15 percent of the amount of its reserves that it has. But if the body does the hard work, then it spends 35% of its energy. Such is our heart, the structure and functions of which are really special and unique.
Myocardium and its specificity
Here you can talk for a long time and quite a lot. Take, for example, myocardial contractile cells. When discussing the functions of the heart, one cannot help but pay attention to this moment. The fact is that they have been working nonstop for many years. Therefore, it is very important that they are constantly supplied with air. The lack of oxygen and other nutrients negatively affects the functions of the human heart. If they do not enter, then the cells will begin to die, and instantly. After all, they do not make stocks that could be useful in such cases. Heart cell life is relentless blood circulation. Moreover, a muscle that is saturated with blood can starve. After all, the myocardium does not feed on the blood that fills its cavities. Oxygen and all nutrients go through the vessels extending from the aorta.
Discharge function
It is one of the main ones. And it consists in the alternation of diastole and systole of the heart ventricles - this is their alternate relaxation and contraction. When diastole is administered, the ventricles are filled with blood. If systole occurs, then they transfer blood to the pulmonary trunk and to the aorta, i.e., to the large arteries. As you can remember, next to the ventricles are heart valves, which are an obstacle to the return flow of blood into the heart from the artery. After all, the blood, before filling the ventricles, passes through the large veins directly into the atria. The contractions are the preceding ventricular systole. We can say that the atria is a kind of auxiliary pump that helps fill the ventricles.
Functional elements of the heart
Their importance is as important as the work carried out by the valves. Muscle fiber is just one of the functional components. This is a chain made up of myocardial cells that are connected to one another and enclosed in a single sarcoplasmic membrane. It should be noted that the fibers are divided into several types. It all depends on their functional as well as morphological individual characteristics. The first type is the fibers of the myocardium of the ventricles and atria. They constitute the main muscle mass and are those that provide the injection function. And the second type is the muscle fibers of the so-called conducting system. They are responsible for the appearance of excitation, as well as for its transmission to myocardial cells. So, an increasing heart rate is a consequence of a violation in the functional components of the central organ of a person.
The consequences of heart failure
On how well the functions of the heart of a person are carried out, his health depends on this has already been said. Unfortunately, today many suffer from diseases associated with this body. They are actively sick by the elderly and the elderly. And this is due to what was mentioned - this body works without stopping throughout life, and it is not surprising that after 50-60 years of uninterrupted labor, it gets tired. Three out of five people die due to heart disease, mainly from heart attacks.
Diseases include the three main groups of ailments that affect the vessels, valves and tissues of the membranes. For example, atherosclerosis is a disease that affects the heart vessels. By the way, the most common ailment. Or heart failure, many also suffer from it. Another serious disease is defect. The essence of the disease lies in the violation of any function of the heart valves. Moreover, the defect can be either acquired or congenital. Arrhythmia also occurs if the functions of the human heart are impaired. Most often, it appears due to a broken sequence, frequency or rhythm of the heartbeat. Some people suffer from angina pectoris (oxygen starvation). And finally, attention should be paid to such a violation as myocardial infarction. A type of coronary disease - when this disease occurs, the myocardial site ceases to be saturated with blood, or it does not occur as intensively as usual.
Heart palpitations
Based on all of the above, it can be understood that if any changes occur with our main organ, then this is definitely a violation of any heart function. Perhaps the most common and most often observed ailment is a rapid heartbeat. This may be tachycardia, which occurs due to ischemic disease, myocarditis, myocardial dystrophy, or due to a defect. But sometimes this ailment is not associated with the heart - it may be due to a thyroid gland disease, menopause or a tumor that has developed. Many people simply do not pay attention to periodically occurring pains or strange sensations. And in vain, because our heart is under enormous strain. This should be especially carefully considered if one's own activity is associated with nervous work, stress and breakdowns.
Additional functions
In addition to the circulation, this important organ has other possibilities. What basic functions of the heart should be highlighted yet? Perhaps the so-called automatism is its ability to generate impulses that provoke excitement. The greatest automatism is the sinus node. One still cannot forget about conductivity - the function of the myocardium, or rather its ability to transmit impulses directly to the contractile part of the heart. Actually, excitability is the process of increasing the heart rate under the influence of impulses. And, of course, refractoriness, which consists in the absence of the ability to activate excited myocardial cells in the event that additional signals began to come to them. It is divided into absolute (when the heart is absolutely apathetic with respect to any excitement), as well as relative (the body reacts to a very strong manifestation). So the functions of the human heart are unlimited.
The only thing I would like to note is that you need to take care of it. After all, this organ is very important, and it is precisely on its condition that the life span of a person depends. Thus, based on the foregoing, it can be confidently stated that the heart, the structure and functions of which were examined in detail, is a mechanism consisting of a mass of vessels, cavities and valves connected by one goal - to ensure full circulation. After all, it is necessary for the life of any living creature. So this is exactly what the basic functions of the heart are.