EXTERNAL ANATOMY AND CORONARY CIRCULATION

The heart consists of four Chambers, two atria and two ventricles. The thin- walled atria form the
Superior and posterior parts of the heart and the thick -walled ventricles form the anterior and
inferior portions. Flap like auricles are extensions of the atria that can be seen anteriorly between
each atrium and ventricle. The entire atrium used to be called the article, and some medical
personnel still refer to it as such.

Several large veins carry blood to the heart. The superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava
carry blood from the body to the right atrium and four pulmonary veins carry blood from the
lungs to the left atrium. In addition, the smaller coronary sinus carries blood from the walls of
the heart to the Right atrium. Two arteries, the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, exit the heart. The
pulmonary trunk carries blood from the walls of the heart of the right ventricle to the lungs,
whilst the aorta carries blood from the left ventricle for systematic circulation.

Systematic circulation is the circulation of blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back
to the heart. Thus; Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to all parts of the body.
Capillaries what's the date exchange of oxygen nutrients and waste, veins on the other hand
collect deoxygenated blood from capillary and merge to form large veins while veins carry blood
back to the heart.

A large coronary sulcus runs obliquely round the heart, separating the atria from the ventricles.
Two more sulci extend inferiorly from the coronary sulcus, indicating the division between the
right and left ventricles. The anterior inter-ventricular sulcus, or grooves, is on the posterior
surface of the heart. In a healthy intact heart, the sulci are covered by fat, and only after this fat is
removed can the actual sulci be seen.

CORONARY CIRCULATION

Coronary circulation is the circulation of blood in the arteries and veins that supply the heart
muscle (myocardium). Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle, cardiac
veins then drain away the blood after it has been deoxygenated. Because the rest of the body, and
most especially the brain need a steady supply of oxygenated blood that is free of all but the
slightest interruptions, the heart is required to function continuously. Therefore its circulation is
of major importance not only to its own tissue but to the entire body and even the level of
consciousness of the brain from moment to moment. Interruptions of coronary circulation
quickly cause heart attack (myocardial infections), in which the heart muscle is damaged by
oxygen starvation. Such interruptions are usually caused by coronary ischemia linked with
coronary artery disease and sometimes to embolism from other causes like obstruction in blood
flow through vessels.
 ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HEART

The heart has a high energy demand and requires a constant supply of adenosine triphosphate
(ATP) to function. The heart uses ATP to fuel contraction and pump blood.

* Contraction. The heart uses 60-70% of it's ATP to fuel contraction.

* Blood pumping. The heart uses 30-40% of it's ATP to pump blood.

The heart generates ATP through aerobic metabolism, which uses many different nutrients,
including

* Fatty acids. At rest, 70-90% of the hearts ATP comes from fatty acids.

* Carbohydrates. 35% of the hearts energy comes from carbohydrates.

* Amino acids and ketones bodies. 5% of the hearts energy comes from amino acids and ketones
bodies from protein.

Heart consumes more oxygen per unit weight than any other organ in the body. Disruption to the
hearts energy production or oxygen supply can lead to heart disease. Heart failure occurs when
the heart can't pump efficiently enough resulting in an imbalance between the hearts energy
supply and demand.

HEART CHAMBERS

The heart is a complex organ that pumps blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and
nutrients to all the tissues and organs.

It is divided into four chambers,

The right atrium

The left atrium

The right ventricle and

The left ventricle

The chambers work in unison to ensure that blood flow properly throughout the body
 THE RIGHT ATRIUM

It is the chamber that receives blood from the body. It is located in the upper right hand corner of
the heart and it is the first chambers that blood enters. Blood enters the right atrium through two
veins, the superior vena cava and the interior vena cava. The superior vena cava carries blood
from the upper parts of the body including the head, arms and chest.

The inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower part of the body, including the legs and the
abdomen. Once blood enters the right atrium, it is then passed through a valve into the right
ventricl .

THE LEFT ATRIUM

It is the chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. It is located in the upper left
hand corner of the heart and it is the third chamber that blood enters. Once blood enters the left
atrium, it is passed through the valve into the left ventricle.

THE PICTURE

THE RIGHT VENTRICLE

It is the chamber that pumps blood to the lungs. It is located in the lower right hand corner of the
heart and it is the second chamber that blood enters once blood enters the right ventricle it is
pumped through the pulmonary valve and into the pulmonary artery which carries the blood to
the lungs. In the lungs, the blood is oxygenated and then return to the heart through the left
atrium.

THE LEFT VENTRICLE

It is the chambers that pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. It is located in the lower
left hand corner of the heart and it is the last chamber that blood enters. Once blood enters the
left ventricle, it is pumped through the aortic valve and into the aorta which carries the blood to
the rest of the body. The left ventricle is the strongest and most muscular of the four chambers
because it has to pump blood to the entire body.

CONCLUSION

The four chambers of the heart works together to ensure that blood flows properly throughout the
body. The right atrium receives my blood from the body and passes it through the valve into the
right ventricle, which pumps the blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood
from the lungs and passes it through a valve into the left ventricle, which pumps the blood to the
rest of the body. The heart also has a system of valves that prevent blood from flowing
backwards, ensuring that blood flows in the correct direction.