심장 [내 몸 둘러보기]

Heart [Understanding Your Body] The most important of all the organs in our body is undoubtedly the heart, which supplies blood to the entire body. Considering that even the heart shape, symbolizing love, originated from the heart, the heart must be a very important organ for our body and mind. Today, let's explore the heart that breathes life into us. The heart sits slightly to the left of our chest and is protected by our ribs. It is slightly larger than our clenched fist, and weighs about 250 to 300 grams. Made up of strong muscles, the heart pumps blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and nutrients. For effective blood pumping, the heart is divided into four chambers. (clockwise from top left) right atrium, left atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle Among them, the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs to cleanse(oxygenate) the blood, and the left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Now, how is it possible that the heart can move independently, unlike other organs? The secret lies in the electrical signals generated by the heart. The heart produces electrical signals from a place called the ‘sinus node,’ stimulating the heart muscles to contract and relax. With each strong contraction caused by electrical stimulation, blood flows to another chamber or throughout the body. You can feel the movement of blood through your pulse. You can usually check your pulse by feeling the beat in your chest or pulsing around your wrist or neck. The heart cannot rest for a minute or even a second to pump blood throughout the body. Then, where and how does the heart obtain all this energy? Our body basically receives nutrients through the blood. The heart also receives energy through the blood. The coronary arteries play a role in this. It was named after the shape of a king’s crown. Three large blood vessels that make up the coronary arteries deliver energy to every corner of the heart. As you can see, it takes blood vessels, muscles, electrical signals, and valves for the heart to function properly. Any malfunction in just one of these components can lead to heart disease. Common heart diseases include angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack(myocardial infarction), and arteriosclerosis. Have you learned a lot about the heart? Unfortunately, heart disease is increasing significantly worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases are ranked the leading cause of death. Heart diseases, mainly caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and obesity, can be largely prevented with a few simple lifestyle changes. The heart, the source of life and the center of our health Protecting a healthy heart is indeed the first step towards a healthy life.