What is a Heart Murmur. A heart murmur sound is a whooshing sound made by the rapid turbulent flow of blood in the heart. It is audible through the stethoscope over the heart. It is not normally heard but is an additional sound heard over the heart during the heartbeat. It is heard when the [...]
Normal Heart Sounds. The lub-dub sounds of the heart beat are a result of the turbulence created when the heart valves snap shut. The cardiac heart sounds are described below with a link to the audio of the heart sounds. Normal heart sounds (S1 and S2) of heart beat, heard are two, which are produced [...]
Parts of Heart. The heart is the most important organ of the body and can only be described as a miracle creation, considering that the heart beats (contracts and relaxes) about 72 times per minute continuously, 24×7, for all the years that you live, by generating its own electric impulse. Each part of the heart [...]
Inferior Vena Cava. The inferior vena cava is a larger vein than the superior vena cava and carries deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body below the diaphragm (lower limbs, abdominal viscera and pelvis) and empties it into the right atrium of the heart. It is also called the posterior vena cava.
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) or superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) is caused by gradual compression/obstruction of the superior vena cava vein by disease, growth or malignancies of any of the structures which surround it. However presently in 90% of the cases, this syndrome is associated with malignancy and in 80% [...]
Superior Vena Cava. The superior vena cava (SVC), also called the precava, is a short vein having a large diameter formed by the left and right brachiocephalic veins which are also called the innominate veins. It is also joined by the azygos vein, which drains the rib cage, just before entry of the SVC into [...]
Pulmonary Artery. The pulmonary artery is the only artery in the human adult which carries deoxygenated blood. All other arteries carry oxygenated blood. The pulmonary artery originates from the right ventricle of the heart through an opening which is guarded by the pulmonary valve. The pulmonary valve is a non return valve which allows the [...]
The Aorta. The aorta is the main and the largest artery in our body. This arterial trunk originates from the left ventricle of the heart and this opening between the left ventricle and the aorta is guarded by the aortic valve which acts as non return valve, allowing blood to flow from the left ventricle [...]
Veins of the Heart. Veins of the heart or cardiac veins refer to the veins that drain the blood supply of the heart wall. At the minutest scale of the circulatory system, the venules collect the deoxygenated and metabolic waste rich blood from the capillary beds. The venules then join together to form the veins. [...]
Heart Artery|Coronary Artery. Like all other body parts, the heart also requires blood supply for oxygen and nutrients to function. Though it is filled with blood, the myocardium receives its blood supply from its own network of arteries. The heart artery called the coronary artery supplies oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle through its [...]