The Human Heart (Circulatory System)

Some interesting facts regarding the Human Heart.

1. It is the central organ of the cardiovascular system
2. It is a hollow, muscular organ that contracts at regular intervals, forcing blood through the circulatory system
3. It is cone-shaped
4. It is about the size of a clenched fist
5. It lies between the lungs and behind the sternum
6. It is tilted slightly towards the left
7. It is enclosed within a protective membrane known as pericardium whose task is to maintain lubrication of the heart to reduce friction during beating of the heart
8. The right side of the heart pumps blood (Darker shade of red) from the body into the lungs (Deoxygenated Blood)
9. The left side of the heart pumps blood (Brighter shade of red) from the lungs to the rest of the body (Oxygenated Blood)
10. The left side of the heart is thicker than the right side of the heart
11. The left side of the heart is 5 times more powerful than the right side of the heart
12. Veins in the body contains deoxygenated blood
13. Arteries in the body contains oxygenated blood
14. Veins in the heart contains oxygenated blood
15. Arteries in the heart contains deoxygenated blood
    

How does the blood flow within the heart?

I will divide the heart into the Left and Right portions. From the Left, it comprises of aorta, left atrium and left ventricle. From the Right, it is made up of pulmonary trunk, right atrium and right ventricle.

The Right Atrium receives De-Oxygenated Blood from the body via the Superior and Inferior Vena Cava. The blood is then pumped into the Right Ventricle via the Tricuspid Valve. It will flow through the Pulmonary Semi-Lunar Valve into the Pulmonary Artery. The deoxygenated blood will be carried by the pulmonary artery to the lungs to be replenish with Oxygen via Gas Exchange. Oxygenated Blood are brought back to the heart by Left and Right Pulmonary Veins into the Left Atrium. The blood goes through the Mitral Valve (aka Bicuspid Valve) into the Left Ventricle. It will then pass through the Aortic Semi-Lunar Valve into the Aorta (biggest artery in the body) before it begins the journey throughout the rest of the body through the vast networkof arteries.

The Picture below depicts the route I had written above:-

The Cardiovascular System consists of 2 circuits. They are the "Pulmonary Circuit" and "Systemic Circuit". The pulmonary circuit carries blood to and from the lungs. The systemic circuit transports the blood to and from the body.

The above picture shows another diagram of the heart. This picture is extracted from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.