Right Heart.

As mentioned in chambers of heart, the heart is made up of

• four chambers (two upper and two lower),
• four valves,
• attached veins which carry blood to the heart and
• arteries which carry blood from the heart.

Right Side of the Heart.

The right side of the heart or the right heart consists of:

• The upper chamber called the right atrium,
• The lower chamber called the right ventricle,
• The tricuspid valve which has three cusps and is therefore also called the tricuspid valve. It is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
• The pulmonary artery originates from the right ventricle and carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
• The pulmonary valve which guards the opening of the pulmonary artery.

The term right heart is used to describe the right side of the heart which consists of the right atrium (upper right chamber of heart) and the right ventricle (lower right chamber of heart) and in some cases, the pulmonary artery is also included.

Picture of Right Heart.

Click to enlarge.

Blood Flow through the Right Heart.

• The right atrium is the upper chamber of the right side of the heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava veins. The superior vena cava brings blood from the head, neck and the upper extremities (upper part of the body) and the inferior vena cava brings blood from the chest, abdomen and the lower extremities (lower part of body).
• Once full, the left atrium contracts and pushes the blood into the left ventricle through the tricuspid valve.
• The right ventricle then contracts and pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery through the pulmonary valve.
• The tricuspid valve or the right atrioventricular valve is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It normally consists of three leaflets or cusps. However at times, it may also have two or four cusps. It is a non return valve and allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle only. It shuts when the right ventricle contracts so that blood flows into the pulmonary artery and not back into the right atrium.
• The pulmonary valve is situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It is a non return valve and allows blood to flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary trunk or artery. It clamps shut when the right ventricle is relaxing to receive blood from the right atrium, in order that blood from the pulmonary artery does not flow back into the right ventricle.

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).

Also read Left Heart.

Related posts:

1. Right Ventricle of the Heart.
2. What Does Heart Do|Function of Heart.
3. Coronary Arteries|Arteries of the Heart.
4. Left Heart.
5. Left Ventricle of the Heart.
6. Heart Chambers.
7. Blood Flow in the Heart.
8. Parts of the Heart.