3.2: Shape and Size of the Heart
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Shape and Size of the Heart
The shape of the heart is similar to a triangle, rather broad at the superior surface and tapering to the apex (see Figure). A typical heart is approximately the size of your fist. Given the size difference between most members of the sexes, the weight of a female heart is smaller on average than the male’s heart. The heart of a well-trained athlete, especially one specializing in aerobic sports, can be considerably larger than this. Cardiac muscle responds to exercise in a manner similar to that of skeletal muscle. Hearts of athletes can pump blood more effectively at lower rates than those of nonathletes.
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- Cardiovascular System Module 3: Heart Anatomy. Authored by: Donna Browne. Provided by: OpenStaxCollege. Located at: http://cnx.org/contents/fb2b5bb4-f446-462b-bbf2-4bf4963bc9e1@1.. License: CC BY: Attribution