Electrical/Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack/Plumbing Functions
In this blog, I want to explain and illustrate the heart in layman's terms, covering its parts and functions. The heart is a complex organ, and science has made significant strides since I was diagnosed with myocarditis in 2006. Here’s a brief explanation of the heart's functions.
The Heart: An Overview
The heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly to the left of the breastbone. It pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins known as the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system has three main functions:
Transporting oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.
Clotting of open wounds.
Regulating body temperature.
The heart is one of the body’s most essential organs.
The Four Main Functions of the Heart
Pumping oxygenated blood to other body parts.
Pumping hormones and other vital substances to different parts of the body.
Receiving deoxygenated blood, carrying metabolic waste products from the body, and pumping it to the lungs for oxygenation.
Maintaining blood pressure.
Electrical Function of the Heart
The heart’s electrical function begins when an electrical stimulus is generated in a special part of the heart muscle called the sinus node, also known as the sinoatrial (SA) node. The sinus node is a small mass of special tissue located in the right upper chamber of the heart (right atrium).
Under normal conditions, electrical impulses are spontaneously generated by the SA node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. This electrical impulse starts in the right atrium, moves through the bundle to the left atrium, and stimulates the myocardium of the atria to contract.
Plumbing Function of the Heart
Think of your arteries and veins as the plumbing system of your heart:
Arteries carry blood from the heart to the body.
Veins carry blood to the heart.
As with any plumbing system, the heart’s pipes can get clogged over time due to plaque buildup from cholesterol, fatty foods, and tobacco use. Alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels also contribute to blockages. Blocked arteries and veins can impede blood flow and cause a heart attack.