Search Encyclopedia The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body. Located almost in the center of the chest, a healthy adult heart is the size of a clenched adult fist. By age 70, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. The heart is always working. It pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood daily. A child's heart works just as hard as
an adult's heart. In fact, at rest, a baby's heart may beat up to 130 to 150 times a minute. An adult's heart often beats between 60 and 100 times a minute, at rest. The rate at which the heart pumps gradually slows down from birth to teen years. The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. It circulates blood throughout the body. A healthy cardiovascular system is vital to supplying the body with oxygen and nutrients. How the heart worksThe heart is a large, muscular organ that pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients through the blood vessels to the body tissues. It's made up of:
A network of arteries and veins also carry blood throughout the body:
Medical Reviewers:
What is the role of blood flow through the heart?Your heart is a powerful muscle, about the size of your fist. Every second, it pumps nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to your body. With each heartbeat, your heart sends blood through your circulatory system. Blood is crucial to remain alive. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients from your heart to other tissues throughout your body. It also carries waste products such as carbon dioxide away from your tissues. What is the circulatory system?Your circulatory system is a network of blood vessels. Blood vessels are small tubes that carry blood all over your body. Blood flows through three types of blood vessels:
Where does blood flow through the heart?Your heart itself is made of muscle nourished by blood vessels. Your heart has four chambers. The chambers are like rooms in the “house” of your heart. If you look at a diagram of a heart, these chambers divide into upper and lower chambers and left and right chambers.
Between the top and bottom chambers, you have heart valves. Heart valves open and close to allow for proper blood flow. Your valves ensure that blood flows only in one direction. These valves are:
What is the order of blood flow through the heart, step by step?The right and left sides of your heart work together to ensure blood flows throughout your whole body. Blood flows through your heart through a series of steps. These steps take place in the space of one heartbeat — just a second or two. On the right side
On the left side
Blood flows through your heart from the right side to the left side and then back to the rest of your body. What signals control your heartbeat?Your heart contracts (beats) when it receives an electrical impulse from your sinoatrial (SA) node. This signal is called heart conduction. The SA node is your body’s “natural pacemaker,” setting your heart’s rhythm. Heart conduction continues as the electrical signal moves to the atrioventricular (AV) node in your right atria. The signal then travels down the His-Purkinje system (a bundle of special fibers) and spreads to the rest of your heart. How fast or slow your heart beats varies throughout the day. Your nervous system sends electrical signals and your endocrine system sends hormones that control your heart rate. These signals help your heart adapt to your body’s changing needs. For example, your heartbeat quickens when you run and slows when you sleep. How much blood does your heart pump?Your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood each day. That’s enough to fill an 8-by-10-foot swimming pool! It beats around 100,000 times daily. In an average life span of almost 79 years, your heart beats nearly 2.9 billion times. What conditions or disorders affect your heart’s blood flow?Some conditions can affect the pathway of blood flow in your heart. Some of these conditions include:
How can I improve my heart health?You can take some steps to live a healthier lifestyle and improve your cardiovascular health. You may:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Every day, blood pumps throughout your heart and the rest of your body. The process of blood flowing through your heart is crucial for staying alive and healthy. When blood enters your heart, it is low in oxygen. Your heart sends the blood to your lungs, where it receives oxygen. Then, your heart pumps the oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the tissues and organs throughout your body. Where does blood leave the heart?The left ventricle generates the high pressure needed to pump the blood to your whole body through your blood vessels. When blood leaves the heart to go to the rest of the body, it travels through a large artery called the aorta.
What supplies oxygenThe aorta (the main blood supplier to the body) branches off into two main coronary blood vessels (also called arteries). These coronary arteries branch off into smaller arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the entire heart muscle.
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