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| | About the Heart and Blood Vessels |
About the heart:
The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body. Located almost in the center of the chest, the heart of a child is about the size of his/her fist. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than three billion times - pumping an amount of blood that equals about one million barrels. The heart is always working, 24 hours a day, seven days a week - even while we are sleeping.
A child's heart works just as hard as an adult's heart. In fact, a baby's heart may beat up to 190 times a minute, while an adult's heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times a minute. The rate at which the heart pumps gradually slows down from birth to adolescence.
Composed of the heart and blood vessels, the cardiovascular system is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. A healthy cardiovascular system is vital to supplying the body with oxygen and nutrients.
How the heart works:
The heart is a large, hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients through the blood vessels to the body tissues. It is made up of:
- four chambers (two atria and two ventricles) that receive blood from the body and pump out blood to it.
- The right and left atria receive blood coming back to the heart.
- The right and left ventricles pump the blood out of the heart.
- four valves to prevent backward flow of blood: the aortic, pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid valves. Each valve is designed to allow the forward flow of blood and prevent the backward flow.
- blood vessels that bring blood to the lungs, where oxygen enters the bloodstream, and then to the body.
- The inferior and superior vena cava bring oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the body into the right atrium.
- The pulmonary artery channels oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the right ventricle into the lungs, where oxygen enters the bloodstream.
- The pulmonary veins bring oxygen-rich (red) blood to the left atrium.
- The aorta channels oxygen-rich (red) blood to the body.
- An electrical system stimulates contraction of the heart muscle.
A network of arteries and veins also carry blood throughout the body.
- Arteries transport blood from the heart to the body tissues.
- Veins carry blood back to the heart.
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The information on this Web page is provided for educational purposes. You understand and agree that this information is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. You agree that Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital is not making a diagnosis of your condition or a recommendation about the course of treatment for your particular circumstances through the use of this Web page. You agree to be solely responsible for your use of this Web page and the information contained on this page. Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and information providers shall not be liable for any damages you may suffer or cause through your use of this page even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
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Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
725 Welch Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
(650) 497-8000
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