Knowing your heart

The main organ associated with circulatory system is heart. The main function of the heart is to pump the oxygenated blood to various parts of the body and receive de-oxygenated blood from various parts of the body through blood vessels namely arteries and veins. The heart is an amazing organ which works non-stop to keep the blood within the body regularly and constantly. The speed at which the blood flows within an individual depends upon his/her health. The heart beats at an average of 72 times per minute. The contraction and expansion of the heart produces a lub-dub sound.

Time factor:

The time taken by blood to travel to a certain part of the body from its source that is heart is generally the same on an average.

Blood takes one and a half second to flow through the heart. It takes about six seconds to flow from the heart to the lungs. It takes about eight seconds for its to and fro journey to this organ.

The blood has to travel the longest distance from the heart to the tips and toes and back. 18 seconds are required to complete this journey.

Rate of blood flow:

The flow of blood remains constant except on some occasions for instance when a person do some physical exercise or feel very tense or frightened his heart begins to pump the blood at a much faster rate leading to a much faster blood flow.

Fascinating facts:

• The heart has four chambers, two auricles and two ventricles, double pump with its right and left chambers are fully separated by a septum.
• The right atrium receives venous blood from the superior and inferior venae cavae and propels it into the pulmonary circulation.
• The left atrium takes blood in from pulmonary veins and sends it into systemic circulation.
• Electrical signals from the natural pace maker causes the heart muscle to contract.
• Valves in the heart keeps the blood flowing in one direction.