HOW THE HEART WORKS

The heart functions as a "double" pump. The cardiovascular pump operates by squeezing blood out of the chambers and expanding to allow blood in. The right side made up of the right auricle and ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood through the lungs where the blood gets oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, which is expelled into the air by breathing. The left auricle and ventricle receive newly oxygenated blood from the lungs and pump it to the rest of the body.

The circulatory blood delivers necessary oxygen along with transporting nutrients, hormones and waste products. The circulatory blood delivers necessary oxygen along with transporting nutrients, hormones and waste products.

Blood vessels are tubes present in the body. The heart is connected to all parts of the body through these tubes. Blood flows from the heart to all parts of the body through these blood vessels. Blood carries oxygen. All parts of the body receive oxygen from the blood.

Like a motor needs fuel to run, the heart also needs fuel for its functioning. Heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, the heart also needs for itself, the blood that carries oxygen and nutrients. The blood vessels that supply the blood to the heart are called - Coronary arteries. At times the coronary artery may be narrowed or blocked due to the deposition of fats on the inner walls. This process is called Atherosclerosis. These deposits narrow the blood vessel, reducing the flow of the blood to the heart. This will lead to:

This cycle of contraction and relaxation causes the blood flow to be "Pulsatile." The pulse of blood flow is transmitted to the blood vessels where the pulse can be felt at points. The heart functions as a "double" pump. The right side made up of the right auricle and ventricle pumps blood through the lungs where the blood gets oxygen. The left auricle and ventricle receive the newly oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body. The circulatory blood delivers necessary oxygen along with transporting nutrients, hormones and waste products.

In a healthy heart, the right and left sides are separated with the 2 auricles separated by the atrial septum and the ventricles by the ventricular septum. Deoxygenated blood that returns from the tissues to the right chambers must circulate through the lungs before it enters the left side.