Our existence depends on the correct and efficient operation of the heart.
The heart pumps the oxygen-and-nutrient laden blood to the tissues, and removes waste products from the tissues.
If the pumping action of the heart is disrupted, the body’s organs begin to fail very quickly.
Chambers: Ventricles and Atria
The heart has four valves and four chambers that keep the blood moving in the right direction. The two ventricles (right and left) are muscular chambers that propel the blood out of the heart (the right ventricle to the lungs, and the left ventricle to all other organs). The two atria (right and left) hold the blood returning to the heart, and at just the right moment empty into the right and left ventricles.
Coronary Arteries
The coronary arteries carry blood to the heart muscle, which is continuously working and therefore has a very high requirement for oxygenated blood. The coronary arteries are vitally important for supplying that blood, and allowing the heart to work normally.
Coronary Arterial Disease
Blockage in any of these major coronary arteries can damage large segments of heart muscle. For example, heart muscle death due to blockage in a coronary artery is referred to as a myocardial infarction, or heart attack.
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