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How the heart works The heart is the center of our circulatory system. It is the main pump which keeps the blood flowing through our bodies. Just like any pump, the heart runs on electricity. The electrical system of the heart keeps the heart pumping “in sync” and makes sure that blood flows in the right direction through the circulatory system. |
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The heart has 4 chambers; two upper chambers and two lower
chambers. The lower chambers (the ventricles) are the main pumping
chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and
the left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body. The upper
chambers (the atria) pump blood into the ventricles. The heart is run by electricity. Each heartbeat is started by
an electrical signal which comes from a group of cells called the sinus
node. The sinus node is found in the right atrium and is the pacemaker
of the heart. The sinus node determines how fast your heart beats. The signal which comes from the sinus node is transmitted across the atria and received by another group of cells called the AV node. The AV node picks up the signal from the sinus node and sends it down to the right and left ventricles. The AV node is like the main wiring of the heart. Without it, the ventricles would not receive the signal from the sinus node. Without this signal, the ventricles would not be able to pump blood. |
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