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November 15, 2011

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Heart Anatomy Illustration

Picture of the Heart

Image Source: MedicineNet, Inc.

The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. It is positioned in the chest behind the sternum (breastbone; in front of the trachea, esophagus, and aorta; and above the diaphragm muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs about 10.5 ounces. It is cone-shaped, with the point of the cone pointing down to the left. Two-thirds of the heart lies in the left side of the chest with the balance in the right chest.

Heart Conditions

Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow : Watch this slideshow on heart disease (coronary artery disease) and learn about causes like high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Symptoms of heart disease include chest pain and shortness of breath. Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention information is included.
Heart Attack : A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot.
Congestive Heart Failure : Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. When this occurs, the heart is unable to provide adequate blood flow to other organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys.
Heart Rhythm Disorders (Abnormal Heart Rhythms): Abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat due to irregularities in transmission of the electrical signals that normally control heart rate and rhythm (also known as arrhythmias).
Angina: Angina is chest discomfort that occurs when there is a decreased blood oxygen supply to an area of the heart muscle. In most cases, the lack of blood supply is due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries as a result of arteriosclerosis.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A medical emergency with absent or inadequate contraction of the left ventricle of the heart that immediately causes bodywide circulatory failure.

Heart Tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a noninvasive test that is used to reflect underlying heart conditions by measuring the electrical activity of the heart.
Chest X-Ray: A chest X-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest.
CT Coronary Angiogram: CT coronary angiogram is a noninvasive test of the heart. The procedure uses an intravenous dye and CT scanning to image the coronary arteries. CT coronary angiogram is a major tool in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Triglyceride Test (Triglycerides): Triglycerides are chemical compounds digested by the body to provide it with the energy for metabolism. A triglyceride test is a simple blood test to measure the level of triglycerides in the blood.
Exercise Stress Test: The exercise stress test is a test used to provide information about how the heart responds to exertion. It usually involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike at increasing levels of difficulty, while your electrocardiogram , heart rate and blood pressure are monitored.

Heart Procedures and Treatment

Angioplasty and Stents: Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure that relieves narrowing and obstruction of the arteries to the muscle of the heart (coronary arteries) while a stent is a tube designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open.
Heart Transplant: A surgical procedure in which a diseased heart is replaced with a healthy heart from a deceased person.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG): A form of bypass surgery that can create new routes around narrowed and blocked coronary arteries, permitting increased blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.