This article will give you more information on human heart, its location, size, functions, etc.
The heart is one of the vital organs in the human body. We often find doctors advising us about maintaining proper heart health by keeping the blood pressure under check, having a proper diet, maintaining proper weight, etc.
Overview of the Human Heart
The human heart is a small organ, shaped somewhat like an upside-down pear. Roughly, its size is about the size of the fist of the person. The weight of the human heart can be anything in between 200-400 grams. The human heart is divided into 4 chambers or parts: the two ventricles (lower parts) and two atria (upper parts).
The heart plays an important role in blood circulation, by pumping deoxygenated blood into the lungs, and supplying oxygenated blood from the lungs to other parts of the body. If you take a look at the diagram of the heart, you will find that there are different pathways like the tricuspid valve, the mitral valve, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve through which the blood flows for purification.
Human Heart Location
In simplest terms, if you wish to know the exact location of the human heart, note that it is placed in the upper part of the body, on the left side of the chest. It is placed in slightly left or middle of the chest, just behind the sternum and in front of the vertebral column. In short, it is located anterior to the vertebral column in the back, and posterior to the sternum in the chest.
Therefore, in scientific terms it can be said that the heart is located sub-sternal, center thoracic, and superior to the stomach. If you take a look at the anatomy of the human heart and the human body, you will find that the heart is located in between the two lungs. Knowing the location of human heart will also help in proper understanding of the circulatory system and the function of lungs.
In 99% of the cases, the heart is located on the left side of the chest. However, in rare cases, the heart can also be found on the right side of the chest. This condition is known as dextrocardia. Dextrocardia is further divided into two types: dextrocardia of embryonic arrest, and dextrocardia with situs inversus. In the first type, the heart is located in the far right of the chest, in the similar position as that found on the left side.
Whereas, in the other type, i.e., in case of dextrocardia with situs inversus, the heart in the right is the mirror image of the structure of the heart on the left side. Along with the abnormal location of heart, there are several other defects found in these people. However, it should be noted that the possibility of the heart to be located on the right side is very rare.
The heart beats or pumps 72 times/min, which is known as the normal heart rate. Abnormally fast heart rate, i.e., over 100 beats per minute, is known as tachycardia. On the contrary, abnormally slow heart rate is known as bradycardia. Heartbeats or even palpitations can be felt in the chest, neck and throat.
Lastly, remember that following a proper diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a proper lifestyle helps in keeping heart diseases at bay. Take care!
