Every day, we field a lot of questions about heart function. In this video blog, Curry clears up some common misconceptions.
Anatomically, here is a little bit about the heart: (from webMD)
“The heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone. The heart pumps blood through the network of arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system.
The heart has four chambers:
- The right atrium receives blood from the veins and pumps it to the right ventricle.
- The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the lungs, where it is loaded with oxygen.
- The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle.
- The left ventricle (the strongest chamber) pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. The left ventricle’s vigorous contractions create our blood pressure.
The coronary arteries run along the surface of the heart and provide oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. A web of nerve tissue also runs through the heart, conducting the complex signals that govern contraction and relaxation. Surrounding the heart is a sac called the pericardium.”
In Oriental Medicine, the heart is responsible for many things, even beyond what you would traditionally think of as being heart-related. If you have any questions or concerns about your heart’s function, give us a call. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
