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14.1: Introduction to the Heart

  • Page ID
    125449
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    Learning Objectives

    After completing this lab report, you should be able to:

    • Describe the location of the heart in the body.
    • Identify the major anatomical structures of the heart on models and sheep heart.
    • Trace the blood pathway through the heart chambers and continue on to systemic and pulmonary circulations.

    The heart sits within the mediastinum, a space within the chest in between the lungs. The heart is responsible for pumping oxygen-poor blood to the lungs to get oxygenated through the pulmonary circuit, and for pumping oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body's tissues through the systemic circuit. Blood is transported to the heart via veins and transported away from the heart via arteries.

    Diagram of the human thoracic cavity, labeled with key structures like the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) Heart in Chest: The heart is located within the thoracic cavity, medially between the lungs in the mediastinum. It is about the size of a fist, is broad at the top (called the base), and tapers toward the apex. (Image and caption credit: "Position of the Heart in the Throax" by OpenStax is licensed under CC BY 4.0) / Cropped from original

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