The four-chambered heart found in mammals and birds is more efficient than the one, two, or three-chambered hearts found in some other animals.Scientists have had some success replicating the heart’s pumping action with artificial pumps, but these pumps can be rejected by the body, and they break down over time.Rarely, however, heart disease can also occur due to a virus or bacterium that infects the heart or its protective tissues. Cholesterol can build up in the arteries as a person gets older, and this is more likely for people who have diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Most heart disease occurs as a result of age or lifestyle.As of 2009, the most common cause of death in the world was heart disease. If it does not function properly, all other organs – including the brain – begin to die from lack of oxygen within just a few minutes. The heart is one of the most vital and delicate organs in the body.

As you read this article, try scrolling back up and seeing if you can spot the chambers, valves, and blood vessels we’re discussing in action:

This animation shows the functioning of this extraordinarily complex pump in action.

The heart also contains “pacemaker” cells which fire nerve impulses at regular intervals, prompting the heart muscle to contract.

It has four chambers which contract in a specific order, allowing the human heart to pump blood from the body to the lungs and back again with high efficiency.

The heart is composed of smooth muscle.

In most people, the heart is located on the left side of the chest, beneath the breastbone. It is located in the middle cavity of the chest, between the lungs.

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.

Download free structure of heart