Heart

Heart: structure, functions and health

The heart is a powerful organ that plays a central role in our lives. It is responsible for blood circulation and a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body. In this article we will look at the structure of the heart, its functions and how to keep it healthy.

Structure of the heart

The heart is located in the chest cavity between the lungs and lies on the diaphragm. It is shaped like a fist and its weight ranges from 300 to 500 grams. The heart is formed from the myocardium - a type of striated muscle, which is covered on the outside with a serous two-layer membrane: a layer adjacent to the muscle - the epicardium, and an outer layer that attaches the heart to neighboring structures, but allows it to contract - the pericardium.

The heart consists of four chambers - the right and left atria and ventricles, which are separated in pairs by fibrous valves that allow blood to flow in only one direction. Two vena cavae flow into the right atrium, and four pulmonary veins flow into the left atrium. The pulmonary artery departs from the right ventricle, and the aorta from the left.

Heart functions

The heart is responsible for circulating blood in the body. It works like a pump, pumping blood through the blood vessels to ensure a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues. The contraction of the heart is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, is not subject to voluntary control, and must be continuous to ensure normal functioning of the body.

Heart Health

Maintaining a healthy heart is an important aspect of taking care of your body. There are many factors that can affect heart health, including diet, level of physical activity, smoking and stress.

Eating right is one of the most important aspects of maintaining heart health. The diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and healthy fats such as olive oil and avocado. You should also limit your intake of salt, sugar and animal fats.

Physical activity also plays an important role in maintaining heart health. Regular exercise can help strengthen your cardiovascular system, reduce your risk of heart disease, and maintain a healthy weight.

Smoking is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Smoking increases blood pressure, increases the concentration of harmful substances in the blood and increases the risk of blood clots. Therefore, smoking should be avoided or quit to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Stress can also negatively impact heart health. Long-term stress can raise blood pressure, increase cholesterol levels and lead to the development of heart disease. Therefore, it is important to learn how to manage stress and use various relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing and walking outdoors.

In conclusion, the heart plays an important role in our lives, and keeping it healthy is an important aspect of taking care of your body. Eating well, getting regular physical activity, avoiding smoking and managing stress can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease and keep your heart healthy.

Heart: history of the term

Part 1:

The word "heart" has been used in the names of many organs since the beginning of medical texts. During the Middle Ages, the Latin word _cṛrĕ,_ which was often translated as "swollen organ", came to be used to refer to this organ of the body. In the 11th century, as medical science spread throughout Europe, the term began to be used more and more often.

Another possibility is that the "bloat" here may simply be a modified Greek term that refers to the cardiac sphincter, a muscle in the middle of the human body.