Blood Flow in Heart.

If you have read function of the heart, you will realize that there has to be a specialized system of blood flow in the heart that will allow the heart to perform its important function. The anatomy of the heart describes the complex heart structure which makes the blood flow in the heart to have a certain pattern and sequence.

Heart and Blood Flow.

The right side and left side of the heart, the four chambers of the heart, the valves of the heart and the blood vessels of the heart, all are placed in such a manner that the blood assumes a continuous and rhythmous pattern of flow to allow the heart to pump the deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation and the oxygenated blood to the body to feed oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues and cells.

Blood Flow Through Heart.

• The right atrium receives impure blood returning from the various parts of the body through the superior and inferior venae cavae veins and it in turn pumps this blood into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. The blood from the upper part of the body is carried by the superior vena cava while the blood from the lower part of the body is carried by the inferior vena cava vein. Both these veins empty into the right atrium.
• The right ventricle receives this blood from the right atrium and pumps this blood through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to be carried to the lungs for oxygenation. This purification of blood involves exchange of gases in the lungs. The carbon dioxide in the impure blood is given up and oxygen from the inhaled air is taken up by the blood.
• This oxygenated blood is emptied into the left atrium through the pulmonary veins (usually four – two from each lung)  which pumps this blood into the left ventricle through the bicuspid or the mitral valve.
• The left ventricle is the strongest of all the chambers of the heart because it has to pump this oxygenated blood to all the parts of the body to nourish the body cells and tissues. It does so by pumping the blood through the aortic valve into the aorta. It is this pressure with which the blood is pumped by the left ventricle that constitutes our blood pressure.

Diagram showing blood flow in the heart.

Blood is received in the sequence mentioned above by relaxation of the heart chamber and the blood is pumped out by the contraction of the heart chamber. Blood is received through the veins and is pumped out through the arteries. Each chamber of the human heart holds about 70 ml of blood.

The heart also contains valves, which are non returnable, that is, they are one way valves and prevent regurgitation of blood as follows:

• From the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) back into the atria (upper chambers).
• From the aorta and pulmonary artery back into the ventricles.
• From the heart back into the pulmonary vein and the venae cavae veins.

It is necessary to know that the contraction and relaxation of the left and right atria take place at the same time. Similarly the left and right ventricles relax (get filled with blood – diastole) and contract at the same time (systole).

Related posts:

1. Are Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Linked.
2. What Does Heart Do|Function of Heart.
3. About Your Heart | Heart Information.
4. Heart Chambers.
5. Right Ventricle of the Heart.
6. Right Heart.
7. Heart Beat|How and Why Does Heart Beat.
8. Heart Valves.