Woman’S Where Is Your Heart Located?

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Heart Anatomy Video | Medical Video Library The heart is the most important muscular organ in the body. It works around the clock pumping blood to various parts of the body through the network of blood vessels. The normal adult heart weighs between 200- 425 grams (7 to 15 ounces) and is about the size of your fist.

  1. Learning about your heart and its functions can help you understand the various conditions that may affect your heart as well to take precautions to prevent them.
  2. The heart is located between the right and left lungs in the middle of your chest.
  3. The heart’s function is to supply oxygen and blood to all parts of the body.

Oxygenated blood pumped from the heart reaches the body’s organs through the systemic arteries, while veins carry impure or deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

  • The heart has four muscular chambers, the upper two chambers are called the right and left atria, and the lower two chambers are called the right and left ventricles.
  • For better understanding, the structures of the heart are discussed under two
  • Sections external anatomy and internal anatomy.

The external view of the heart shows many structures. Every structure is associated with certain function which is important for normal functioning of the heart. Let us learn more about these structures.

  1. Pericardium: The pericardium is a fluid filled sac that encloses the heart and the ends of its major blood vessels including the aorta, vena cava and pulmonary artery. The pericardium is made of three layers:
  2. 1. Outer fibrous sac–fibrous pericardium,
  3. 2. Middle layer–parietal pericardium
  4. 3. Inner layer–visceral pericardium
  5. The space between the parietal and visceral layer is called the pericardial cavity and is filled with pericardial fluid. The pericardial fluid acts as a lubricant to allow normal heart movements within the chest and also acts as a shock absorber to protect the heart from trauma
  6. Arteries and Veins
  7. Aorta: The aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, carries oxygen rich blood from the left ventricle to the various parts of the body.

Vena Cava: The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are the two largest veins in the body. The superior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the upper part of the body. The inferior vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to the right atrium of the heart.

Pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins: The pulmonary artery transports the de-oxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation. The oxygenated blood is then carried to the left atrium through the pulmonary veins. Coronary arteries and coronary veins: Coronary arteries originate from the ascending aorta and deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscles.

Coronary veins remove deoxygenated blood from the muscular tissue of the heart and drain it into the right atrium. Internal Heart Anatomy Muscular chambers: The heart has four muscular chambers, the upper two chambers are called the right and left atria, and the lower two chambers are called the right and left ventricles.

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The right atrium collects the deoxygenated blood from the vena cava and delivers it to the right ventricle. This delivery is regulated by the tricuspid valve. The right ventricle delivers the blood to the lungs for purification (oxygenation). This delivery is regulated by the pulmonary valve. The left atrium collects the oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle.

This delivery is regulated by the mitral valve. The left ventricle then delivers the oxygenated blood to the aorta (main artery) from where it is pumped to the rest of the body. This delivery is regulated by the aortic valve.

  • Heart Valves: Heart valves are flap-like structures that allow blood to flow in one direction preventing backward flow of the blood.
  • The heart has four valves :
  • Tricuspid Valve: It is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
  • Mitral Valve: It is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
  • Pulmonary Valve: It is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
  • Aortic Valve: It is located between the left ventricle and the aorta.
  • Circulatory System of the Heart

The heart works as a pump to deliver blood to every organ, tissue, and cell of your body through a complex network of arteries, arterioles, and capillaries. Blood returns back to the heart through venules (small veins) and veins.

  1. The circulatory system has two parts:
  2. Pulmonary circulation: During pulmonary circulation, the pulmonary artery carries de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart through the pulmonary veins.
  3. Systemic circulation: In systemic circulation, the aorta carries oxygenated blood from the heart to all the organs of the body through the systemic arteries, and returns de-oxygenated blood back to the heart via the systemic veins.
  4. Conduction System.

The heart muscle consists of an electrical conduction system that triggers the heart walls to contract. The system is made of two nodes (special conduction cells) and a series of conduction pathways. Sinoatrial or SA node: Also called the pacemaker of the heart, the SA node is located in the upper wall of the right atrium.

  • The SA node is responsible for setting the rate and rhythm of the heart beat causing the atria to contract when the electrical impulse is released.
  • The signal then passes to the atrioventricular (AV) node.
  • Atrioventricular (AV) node: Located between the atria and ventricles, the AV node checks the signal and sends it to the conduction pathways (bundle of His) to provide electrical stimulus to the ventricles.

Bundle of His: This is a group of fibers located within the septum of the heart that carries electrical impulses from the AV node to the ventricles. It is divided into right and left bundle branches. These bundle branches are further divided into tiny filaments, known as Purkinje fibers.

These fibers connect directly to the cells in the walls of your heart’s left and right ventricles to maintain regular contraction. A healthy heart is important for overall wellbeing. Certain disease conditions and lifestyle habits such as smoking, being overweight, and leading a sedentary life can put your heart at risk affecting how it functions and leading to complications.

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Heart disease is preventable and the actions you take to reduce your risk of heart disease by making lifestyle changes will increase your chances for a long and healthy life. : Heart Anatomy Video | Medical Video Library

Contents

How do you know if you have heart pain?

Heart-related chest pain – Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, many people with heart disease say they have a vague discomfort that isn’t necessarily identified as pain. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:

Pressure, fullness, burning or tightness in your chest Crushing or searing pain that spreads to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity Shortness of breath Cold sweats Dizziness or weakness Nausea or vomiting

What causes chest pain in a woman?

The cause may be related to the heart, the muscles, the digestive system, or psychological factors. Underlying causes of chest pain may be mild, as in the case of acid reflux. Or, they may be serious and indicate, for example, a heart attack.

Why does my left breast hurt?

Causes – Changing hormone levels can cause changes in the milk ducts or milk glands. These changes in the ducts and glands can cause breast cysts, which can be painful and are a common cause of cyclic breast pain. Noncyclic breast pain may be caused by trauma, prior breast surgery or other factors.

What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke in a woman?

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.

What happens a month before a heart attack?

What do these early symptoms typically look like? – Dr. Xu says the majority of patients experience somewhat typical symptoms, such as radiating chest pain, heaviness or discomfort, heart palpitations, cold sweats, and shortness of breath. Others – women more so than men – will experience some atypical symptoms as well, which may include fatigue, a general sense of unease, vague discomfort, back or abdominal pain and declining stamina.

Can heart problems cause your back to hurt?

Back Pain and Heart Attack: What’s the Link? Chest pain remains the most common symptom of a heart attack, but there are other warning signs you shouldn’t ignore, such as back pain. Interestingly, the notes that women are more likely than men to report back pain occurring before and during a heart attack.

Can heart pain be felt in left breast?

What Problems Cause the Pain Under the Left Breast? – Let us take a look at the possible culprits behind your left breast pain: 1. Heart Attack A heart attack can be the reason why you feel pain and tightness under your left breast area. Our heart is located slightly left of the center of our chest.

  1. Usually, heart pain will occur in the middle of the chest.
  2. Therefore, get immediate medical attention if you have a burning or squeezing sensation in your chest.2.
  3. Pleurisy Pleura is a layered membrane that surrounds the lungs, which can become inflamed due to an infection or other reasons.
  4. You might feel chest pain or pain in the left breast while breathing.
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Usually, it goes away on its own. Still, it can signify an underlying health condition like lung cancer or rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, visit your doctor if you suspect pleurisy.3. Pericarditis The pericardium is a thin, layered membrane that is filled with fluid and surrounds our heart to protect it.

  • Infections and certain disorders can cause this membrane to become inflamed, resulting in sharp pain under the left breast, shoulders, fever, shortness of breath, and more.4.
  • Precordial Catch Syndrome Injury to the chest, a growth spurt, and bad posture can irritate or pinch the nerves of the chest wall.

Consequently, one feels intense pain while breathing, chest pain on the left side, etc. Although the symptoms might feel like a heart attack sometimes, they heal on their own. This is a harmless condition common among older children and young adults.5.

  • Costochondritis Sometimes, pain under your left breast signifies inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to the breast bone.
  • There is no identifiable cause, but rib cage injury, heavy lifting, infection, and arthritis are tied to this condition as possible culprits.6.
  • Angina You might feel pain in the middle of your chest or under your left breast if your heart does not receive sufficient oxygen-rich blood.

The discomfort might spread to your shoulders, arms, neck, and jaw.7. Chest injuries You can bruise or crack the left side of your rib and chest due to a blow to the chest. As a result, severe complications on the left side might occur. For instance, the edges of a broken rib can poke your liver or spleen.

Why do I feel pain in my heart area?

Chest pain may be caused by angina or a heart attack. Other causes of chest pain can include indigestion, reflux, muscle strain, inflammation in the rib joints near the breastbone, and shingles. If in doubt about the cause of your chest pain, call an ambulance.

Why does my heart hurt female?

Chest pain or discomfort is a common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women. Anyone who experiences chest pain or discomfort that lasts for several minutes or recurs should seek emergency medical help. In some cases, pain or discomfort may be due to other causes, such as heartburn, reflux, a lung-related issue, or another problem affecting the heart.