The heart is the muscular organ of the circulatory system that constantly pumps blood throughout the

body. Approximately the size of a clenched fist, the heart is composed of cardiac muscle tissue that is
very strong and able to contract and relax rhythmically throughout a person's lifetime. The essential
function of the heart is to pump blood to various parts of the body. The mammalian heart has four
chambers: right and left atria and right and left ventricles. The two atria act as collecting reservoirs
for blood returning to the heart while the two ventricles act as pumps to eject the blood to the body.
As in any pumping system, the heart comes complete with valves to prevent the back flow of blood.
Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart via the major veins (superior and inferior vena cava), enters
the right atrium, passes into the right ventricle, and from there is ejected to the pulmonary artery on
the way to the lungs. Oxygenated blood returning from the lungs enters the left atrium via the
pulmonary veins, passes into the left ventricle, and is then ejected to the aorta.

This condition may be defined as an ejection fraction of less than 40% in the presence of increased left
ventricular dimension (left ventricular end-diastolic size more than 115% of that calculated for age and
body surface area). Increased left ventricular dimensions in the presence of preserved systolic function
may be a precursor to the development of systolic dysfunction in certain individuals. Pharmacologic
intervention with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers may prevent this
progression to heart failure in some of these individuals