COVID-19 INFO

800.223.2273
100 Years of Cleveland Clinic
MyChart
Need help?
Giving
Careers
SEARCH

Find a Doctor
Locations & Directions
Patients & Visitors
Health Library

Institutes & Departments

Appointments & Access

/
Health Library
/
Body Systems & Organs

Heart Appointments
800.659.7822
Your heart is the main organ of your cardiovascular system, a APPOINT MENTS &
network of blood vessels that pumps blood throughout your LOCAT IONS

body. It also works with other body systems to control your

heart rate and blood pressure. Your family history, personal TALK TO A HEART
NU RS E
health history and lifestyle all affect how well your heart
works. CONTACT U S

Function
Anatomy
Conditions and Disorders
Care
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Institutes &
Services
OVERVIEW Heart, Vascular &
Thoracic Institute
(Miller Family)
What is the heart? The latest information about
heart & vascular disorders,
treatments, tests and prevention
The heart is a fist-sized organ that pumps blood
program in the United States.
throughout your body. It's the primary organ of your
circulatory system.
Your heart contains four main sections (chambers)
made of muscle and powered by electrical impulses.
Your brain and nervous system direct your heart’s
from the No. 1-ranked heart
ADVERTISEMENT
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academ
medical center. Advertising on our site
support our mission. We do not endor
Cleveland Clinic products or services.

function.

What does a heart diagram look like?

The inside and outside of your heart contain
components that direct blood flow:

Inside of the Heart

Outside of the Heart

FUNCTION

What is the heart’s function?

Your heart’s main function is to move blood throughout
your body. Your heart also:

Controls the rhythm and speed of your heart rate.

Maintains your blood pressure.
How does your heart work with other
organs?
Your heart works with other body systems to control
your heart rate and other body functions. The primary
systems are:

Nervous system: Your nervous system helps control

your heart rate. It sends signals that tell your heart to
beat slower during rest and faster during stress.
Endocrine system: Your endocrine system sends out
hormones. These hormones tell your blood vessels ADVERTISEMENT

to constrict or relax, which affects your blood

pressure. Hormones from your thyroid gland can
also tell your heart to beat faster or slower.

ANATOMY

Where is your heart located?

Your heart is located in the front of your chest. It sits
slightly behind and to the left of your sternum
(breastbone). Your ribcage protects your heart.

What side is your heart on?

Your heart is slightly on the left side of your body. It sits
between your right and left lungs. The left lung is
slightly smaller to make room for the heart in your left
chest.

How big is your heart?

Everyone’s heart is a slightly different size. Generally,
adult hearts are about the same size as two clenched
fists, and children’s hearts are about the same size as
one clenched fist.

How much does your heart weigh?

On average, an adult’s heart weighs about 10 ounces.
Your heart may weigh a little more or a little less,
depending on your body size and sex.

What are the parts of the heart’s

anatomy?
The parts of your heart are like the parts of a house.
Your heart has:

Walls.
Chambers (rooms).
Valves (doors).
Blood vessels (plumbing).
Electrical conduction system (electricity).

Heart walls
Your heart walls are the muscles that contract
(squeeze) and relax to send blood throughout your
body. A layer of muscular tissue called the septum
divides your heart walls into the left and right sides.

Your heart walls have three layers:

Endocardium: Inner layer.

Myocardium: Muscular middle layer.
Epicardium: Protective outer layer.
The epicardium is one layer of your pericardium. The
pericardium is a protective sac that covers your entire
heart. It produces fluid to lubricate your heart and keep
it from rubbing against other organs.

Heart chambers
Your heart is divided into four chambers. You have two
chambers on the top (atrium, plural atria) and two on
the bottom (ventricles), one on each side of the heart.

Right atrium: Two large veins deliver oxygen-poor

blood to your right atrium. The superior vena cava
carries blood from your upper body. The inferior vena
cava brings blood from the lower body. Then the
right atrium pumps the blood to your right ventricle.
Right ventricle: The lower right chamber pumps the
oxygen-poor blood to your lungs through the
pulmonary artery. The lungs reload blood with
ADVERTISEMENT
oxygen.
Left atrium: After the lungs fill blood with oxygen, the
pulmonary veins carry the blood to the left atrium.
This upper chamber pumps the blood to your left
ventricle.
Left ventricle: The left ventricle is slightly larger than
the right. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of
your body.

Heart valves
Your heart valves are like doors between your heart
chambers. They open and close to allow blood to flow
through.
The atrioventricular (AV) valves open between your
upper and lower heart chambers. They include:

Tricuspid valve: Door between your right atrium and

right ventricle.
Mitral valve: Door between your left atrium and left
ventricle.

Semilunar (SL) valves open when blood flows out of

your ventricles. They include:

Aortic valve: Opens when blood flows out of your left

ventricle to your aorta (artery that carries oxygen-
rich blood to your body).
Pulmonary valve: Opens when blood flows from
your right ventricle to your pulmonary arteries (the
only arteries that carry oxygen-poor blood to your
lungs).

Blood vessels
Your heart pumps blood through three types of blood
vessels:

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to

your body’s tissues. The exception is your pulmonary
arteries, which go to your lungs.
Veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to your heart.
Capillaries are small blood vessels where your body
exchanges oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood.

Your heart receives nutrients through a network of

coronary arteries. These arteries run along your heart’s
surface. They serve the heart itself.

Electrical conduction system

Your heart’s conduction system is like the electrical
wiring of a house. It controls the rhythm and pace of
your heartbeat. It includes:

Sinoatrial (SA) node: Sends the signals that make

your heart beat.
Atrioventricular (AV) node: Carries electrical signals
from your heart’s upper chambers to its lower ones.

Your heart also has a network of electrical bundles and

fibers. This network includes:

Left bundle branch: Sends electric impulses to your

left ventricle.
Right bundle branch: Sends electric impulses to your
right ventricle.
Bundle of His: Sends impulses from your AV node to
the Purkinje fibers.
Purkinje fibers: Make your heart ventricles contract
and pump out blood.

CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS

What conditions and disorders affect

the human heart?
Heart conditions are among the most common types of ADVERTISEMENT

disorders affecting people. In the United States, heart

disease is the leading cause of death for people of all
genders and most ethnic and racial groups.

Common conditions that affect your heart include:

 Atrial fibrillation (Afib): Irregular electrical impulses
in your atrium.
Arrhythmia: A heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or
beats with an irregular rhythm.
Cardiomyopathy: Unusual thickening, enlargement
or stiffening of your heart muscle.
Congestive heart failure: When your heart is too stiff
or too weak to properly pump blood throughout your
body.
Coronary artery disease: Plaque buildup that leads
to narrow coronary arteries.
Heart attack (myocardial infarction): A sudden
coronary artery blockage that cuts off oxygen to part
of your heart muscle.
Pericarditis: Inflammation in your heart’s lining
(pericardium).

CARE

How can I keep my heart healthy?

If you have a condition that affects your heart, follow
your healthcare provider’s treatment plan. It’s important
to take medications as prescribed.

You can also make lifestyle changes to keep your heart

healthy. You may:

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight for your sex

and age.
Drink alcohol in moderation.
Eat a heart-healthy diet with plenty of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains.
 Exercise moderately for at least 150 minutes per
week.
Limit your sodium intake.
Manage your stress with healthy strategies like
meditation or journaling.
Quit smoking and/or using tobacco products and
avoid secondhand smoke.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should I ask my doctor about my

heart?
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

How does my family history affect my heart health?

What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
How do my cholesterol levels affect my heart?
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
What foods should I eat to prevent heart disease?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Your heart is the primary organ of your circulatory

system. It pumps blood throughout your body, controls
your heart rate and maintains blood pressure. Your
heart is a bit like a house. It has walls, rooms, doors,
plumbing and an electrical system. All the parts of your
heart work together to keep blood flowing and send
nutrients to your other organs. Conditions that affect
your heart are some of the most common types of
conditions. Ask your healthcare provider how you can
improve your heart health.
More health news + info
Loading...

SHOW MORE

Appointments
800.659.7822 APPOINT MENTS & LOC AT I O N S TALK TO A HEART NURS E CONTACT US

Actions Blog, News & Apps

Appointments & Access Consult QD About Cleveland Site Information &
Accepted Insurance Health Essentials Clinic Policies
Events Calendar Newsroom
100 Years of Cleveland Send Us Feedback
Financial Assistance MyClevelandClinic
Clinic Site Map
Give to Cleveland Clinic MyChart
About Us About this Website
Pay Your Bill Online
Locations Copyright, Reprint &
Refer a Patient Quality & Patient Safety Licensing
Phone Directory
Office of Diversity & Website Terms of Use
Virtual Second Opinions Inclusion Privacy Policy
Virtual Visits Patient Experience Notice of Privacy
Research & Innovations Practices
Community Commitment Non-Discrimination Notice
Careers
For Employees
Resources for Medical
Professionals