Box diagram of heart

The heart is a complex organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It sits in the chest, slightly left of center, behind the breastbone, and between the lungs. A heart that is not healthy does not always produce symptoms. However, certain signs and symptoms can indicate a problem with the heart. This article describes the anatomy of the heart and how it works. We also provide tips on how to tell if the heart is healthy and outline some symptoms of various heart conditions. The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. To do this, the heart fills with blood and then contracts to push the blood through the circulatory system. Electrical impulses tell the heart how often to contract or “beat.” The right side of the heart receives blood from the veins and pumps it on toward the lungs. Here, the blood receives oxygen and removes carbon dioxide for the lungs to breathe out. The left side of the heart then receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it through arteries to the rest of the body. The heart has four distinct chambers. The left and right atria are at the top, and the left and right ventricles are at the bottom. The septum is a tissue wall separating the left and right chambers. The heart also has four valves: • The pulmonic valve opens and closes to regulate blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery (lungs). • The aortic valve opens and closes to regulate oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the aorta (the largest ...