How does your heart function?

Answer 1

The cardiac muscle has a special type of tissue that spontaneously generates electrical activity. In the wall of the right atrium there is a group of cells that forms a special tissue called the sino-atrial node. In the wall between the right atrium and the right ventricle there is another similer tissue called the atrioventricular node. The sino atrial node is known as the pacemaker. It generates rhythmic electric waves that spread to the two aria causing them to contract. The electric wave spreading from the sino atrial node reaches the atrioventricular node and causes it to fire an electric wave that spreads to the two ventricles. The electric wave from the AVN travels in special muscle fibres called the bundle if His and from there throughout the pinkie fibres to the two ventricles. This makes the two ventricles contract and force blood into the systemic and pulmonary circuits.

Answer 2

Because our hearts have four chambers, it keeps our oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood separated. The valves in our hearts prevent backflow of blood. The pumping of our hearts pushes blood through the valves and opens and closes the valves. All in all, this gives us better blood circulation and by keeping the oxygen-rich blood separate from the oxygen-poor blood, our bodies are able to get more oxygen.

Answer 3

The heart muscle contracts, through electrical impulses, thus receiving and sending out blood in a rhythmic pattern. It is an efficient PUMP but it also regulates where blood goes into arteries.