The role of the heart

The heart is fist sized and is located under the rib cage, to the left of the breastbone and between the lungs.

Its role is to send blood around the body, removing waste products and providing oxygen from the lungs and the nutrients required to sustain life. The heart beats approximately 100,000 times per day, and can pump 5 to 7 litres of blood in one minute (7600 litres per day).

The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the heart receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body.

The blood which is pumped by the heart is carried through the body in three types of blood vessels:

Arteries carry blood from the heart to the body’s tissues. Starting at the aorta they become smaller as they carry blood further from the heart.

Veins take blood back to the heart, they become larger as they get closer to the heart. The superior vena cava brings blood from the upper body to the heart, and the inferior vena cava brings blood from the lower body.

Capillaries are small blood vessels that connect the arteries and the veins. The walls of capillaries are thin, allowing oxygen, nutrients and waste products such as carbon dioxide to pass to and from the bodies organs.

When the heart is functioning properly this process ensures that there is sufficient oxygen and nutrients for your body to work efficiently.

Heart disease and cardiovascular disease

Heart disease is a term used to describe a range of conditions that affect the heart. The term ‘heart disease’ is often used interchangeably with the term ‘cardiovascular disease’, however, cardiovascular disease refers to diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, or capillaries), whereas heart disease refers solely to diseases of the heart.

Did you know?

Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease.