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preserved pig heart enclosed in pericardium (left) and with the pericardium opened |
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preserved sheep heart with pericardium removed |
The heart has four chambers - two receiving chambers, the atria, and two pumping chambers, the ventricles.
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transected sheep heart showing chambers and valves (preserved specimen) |
The Right Heart receives carbon dioxide-rich blood from the systemic circulation and pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation.
The Left Heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the pulmonary circulation and pumps it out to the rest of the body.
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The Cardiac Cycle describes the events that take place during one heart beat.
Control of the Heart Beat: In order for the complex events of the cardiac cycle to take place in an orderly sequence, a "mini nervous system" in the heart must carefully control the process.
