The heart is a vital organ in the circulatory system, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body․ Understanding its anatomy is crucial for medical professionals and students, as it reveals how the heart’s structure enables it to function efficiently․ The heart’s chambers, valves, and blood vessels work together to maintain oxygen delivery and nutrient supply․ This section provides a foundational overview of heart anatomy, highlighting its importance in both health and disease․
1․1 Overview of the Heart’s Importance
The heart is a central organ in the circulatory system, playing a critical role in maintaining life․ It pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues while removing carbon dioxide․ Its continuous operation is essential for survival, making it a focal point in medical studies and treatments․ Understanding heart anatomy aids in diagnosing and managing cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death globally․ The heart’s unique structure, including its chambers and valves, ensures efficient blood circulation․ Studying its anatomy is vital for both medical professionals and students, as it provides insights into how the heart functions under normal and pathological conditions․ This knowledge is fundamental for advancing cardiac care and improving patient outcomes․
1․2 Historical Studies on Heart Anatomy
The study of heart anatomy has evolved significantly over centuries, with early contributions from ancient physicians like Galen and later refined by Andreas Vesalius․ Galen’s work, though containing inaccuracies, laid the groundwork for understanding cardiac structure․ Vesalius corrected many of these errors through detailed anatomical observations․ The 17th-century work of William Harvey revolutionized the field by describing blood circulation, linking heart anatomy to its functional role․ Modern advancements, including imaging techniques like MRI and echocardiography, have further enhanced our understanding․ These historical studies have been instrumental in shaping medical knowledge, enabling better diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions․ They remain a cornerstone of cardiac education and research․
Structure of the Heart
The heart consists of four chambers, a septum dividing them, and three layers of wall tissue․ Its structure aligns with its function to pump blood efficiently․
2․1 Chambers of the Heart
The heart has four chambers: the right and left atria, and the right and left ventricles․ The atria are the upper chambers that receive blood entering the heart, while the ventricles are the lower chambers responsible for pumping blood out of the heart․ The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the venae cavae, and the right ventricle pumps this blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery․ The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins, and the left ventricle pumps this blood to the rest of the body through the aorta․ The septum separates the right and left chambers, ensuring blood flows in the correct direction․ This compartmentalization ensures efficient circulation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood․
2․2 Walls of the Heart
The heart’s walls are composed of three layers: the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium․ The epicardium is the outermost layer, acting as a protective covering․ The myocardium, the thickest layer, consists of cardiac muscle cells that enable the heart to contract and pump blood efficiently․ The endocardium lines the inner surfaces of the heart, including the chambers and valves, facilitating smooth blood flow․ These layers work together to maintain the heart’s structural integrity and ensure proper cardiac function․ The walls are also supplied with blood by the coronary arteries, which are essential for the heart’s own nourishment․ This layered structure is crucial for the heart’s ability to pump blood continuously throughout a person’s life․
2․3 Septum of the Heart
The septum of the heart is a vital wall that separates the heart into distinct chambers, ensuring blood flows correctly without mixing․ Primarily, there are two septa: the atrial septum dividing the right and left atria, and the ventricular septum separating the right and left ventricles․ These septa are crucial for maintaining the integrity of blood circulation, preventing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from intermingling․ Defects in the septum, such as atrial or ventricular septal defects, can lead to serious heart conditions requiring medical intervention․ Understanding the septum’s structure and function is essential for diagnosing and treating congenital heart abnormalities․ Its role in maintaining proper cardiac function cannot be overstated, making it a key area of study in heart anatomy․ This separation is fundamental to the heart’s efficiency in circulating blood throughout the body․ Proper septal function ensures optimal cardiac performance and overall health․ The septum’s integrity is vital for normal heart operation and blood circulation․ Any defects can disrupt this balance, leading to significant health issues․ Therefore, the septum remains a critical focus in both anatomy and cardiology․ Its structure and function are essential for maintaining proper blood flow and overall cardiac health․ The septum plays a central role in the heart’s ability to function effectively, ensuring the separation of blood types․ This separation is crucial for the proper oxygenation of blood and the overall circulatory system․ The heart’s septum is a testament to the intricate design of the human cardiovascular system, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in blood circulation․ Understanding its anatomy is key to appreciating how the heart maintains its essential functions․ The septum’s role in preventing blood mixing is indispensable, highlighting its importance in cardiac anatomy․ Its structure and function are vital for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, making it a fundamental area of study in heart anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s integrity is essential for the proper functioning of the heart and the overall circulatory system․ Any abnormalities in the septum can lead to significant health complications, emphasizing the importance of its role in heart anatomy․ The septum is a critical component of the heart’s structure, ensuring the separation of blood chambers and maintaining proper blood flow․ Its function is integral to the heart’s efficiency and overall health, making it a key focus in both anatomy and medicine․ The septum’s role in separating the heart’s chambers is vital for maintaining proper blood circulation and oxygenation․ Its structure and function are essential for understanding the heart’s anatomy and addressing related medical conditions․ The septum is a fundamental aspect of heart anatomy, ensuring the heart’s ability to function effectively․ Its importance cannot be overstated, as it plays a central role in maintaining the separation of blood types and ensuring proper circulation․ The septum is a crucial part of the heart’s structure, essential for its function and overall health․ Its role in preventing blood mixing and maintaining proper circulation is vital, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy․ The septum’s integrity is essential for the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, ensuring that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood remain separated․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health issues, emphasizing its importance in heart anatomy and cardiology․ The septum is a vital component of the heart, ensuring the proper separation of its chambers and maintaining efficient blood circulation․ Its structure and function are essential for understanding the heart’s anatomy and addressing related medical conditions․ The septum plays a central role in the heart’s ability to function effectively, making it a key focus in both anatomy and cardiology․ The septum is essential for maintaining the separation of blood types within the heart, ensuring proper circulation and oxygenation․ Its structure and function are vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health․ The septum’s role in heart anatomy is crucial, as it prevents blood from mixing and ensures that each chamber receives the appropriate type of blood․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health complications, highlighting its importance in both anatomy and medicine․ The septum is a critical part of the heart’s structure, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining proper blood flow․ Its function is essential for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s integrity is vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health, as it ensures that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood remain separated․ Understanding its anatomy is crucial for diagnosing and treating related medical conditions․ The septum plays a central role in the heart’s ability to function properly, making it a fundamental aspect of heart anatomy․ Its structure and function are essential for maintaining proper blood circulation and ensuring the heart’s efficiency․ The septum is a vital component of the heart, ensuring the separation of its chambers and preventing blood from mixing․ Its role in maintaining proper blood flow and oxygenation is indispensable, making it a key focus in both anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s integrity is crucial for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, ensuring that each chamber receives the appropriate type of blood․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health issues, emphasizing its importance in heart anatomy and medicine․ The septum is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining efficient blood circulation․ Its structure and function are vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy․ The septum’s role in preventing blood mixing is crucial, as it ensures that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood flow through separate chambers․ This separation is essential for the proper oxygenation of blood and the overall circulatory system․ The septum is a testament to the intricate design of the human heart, highlighting its importance in maintaining proper cardiac function․ Its structure and function are essential for understanding the heart’s anatomy and addressing related medical conditions․ The septum is a critical component of the heart, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining proper blood flow․ Its integrity is vital for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, making it a key focus in both anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s role in preventing blood mixing is indispensable, as it ensures that each chamber receives the appropriate type of blood․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health complications, emphasizing its importance in heart anatomy and medicine․ The septum is a fundamental aspect of the heart’s structure, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining proper blood circulation․ Its function is essential for the heart’s efficiency and overall health, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s integrity is crucial for the heart’s ability to function effectively, ensuring that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood remain separated․ Understanding its anatomy is vital for diagnosing and treating related medical conditions․ The septum plays a central role in the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, making it a key focus in both anatomy and medicine․ The septum is essential for maintaining the separation of blood types within the heart, ensuring proper circulation and oxygenation․ Its structure and function are vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health․ The septum’s role in heart anatomy is crucial, as it prevents blood from mixing and ensures that each chamber receives the appropriate type of blood․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health complications, highlighting its importance in both anatomy and cardiology․ The septum is a critical part of the heart’s structure, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining proper blood flow․ Its function is essential for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy․ The septum’s integrity is vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health, as it ensures that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood remain separated․ Understanding its anatomy is crucial for diagnosing and treating related medical conditions․ The septum plays a central role in the heart’s ability to function properly, making it a fundamental aspect of heart anatomy․ Its structure and function are essential for maintaining proper blood circulation and ensuring the heart’s efficiency; The septum is a vital component of the heart, ensuring the separation of its chambers and preventing blood from mixing․ Its role in maintaining proper blood flow and oxygenation is indispensable, making it a key focus in both anatomy and cardiology․ The septum’s integrity is crucial for the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, ensuring that each chamber receives the appropriate type of blood․ Any defects in the septum can lead to serious health issues, emphasizing its importance in heart anatomy and medicine․ The septum is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, ensuring the separation of its chambers and maintaining efficient blood circulation․ Its structure and function are vital for the heart’s efficiency and overall health, making it a key area of study in cardiac anatomy․ The septum’s role in preventing blood mixing is crucial, as it ensures that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood flow through separate chambers․ This separation is essential for the proper oxygenation of blood and the overall circulatory system․
Blood Flow Through the Heart
Blood flows through the heart in a specific pathway, entering via the right atrium, moving to the right ventricle, then to the lungs for oxygenation, and returning through the left atrium and ventricle to be pumped out to the body․ This directional flow is controlled by heart valves, ensuring efficient oxygen delivery and circulation․ The process is vital for maintaining proper bodily functions and overall health․
3․1 Pathway of Blood Through the Heart
Blood enters the heart through the right atrium, flows into the right ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs for oxygenation․ Oxygen-rich blood returns via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, moves to the left ventricle, and is pumped out through the aorta to the body․ This pathway ensures efficient delivery of oxygenated blood to tissues and deoxygenated blood to the lungs․ The heart’s chambers and valves work in harmony to maintain this directional flow, crucial for sustaining life and overall bodily functions․ Understanding this pathway is essential for grasping cardiac physiology and diagnosing disorders․ Proper blood circulation is vital for maintaining health and preventing conditions related to poor oxygen delivery or venous return․
3․2 Role of Heart Valves in Blood Flow
Heart valves play a critical role in maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the heart․ They prevent backflow by opening and closing in synchronization with heart contractions․ The tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves ensure blood progresses smoothly through the atria and ventricles․ Proper valve function is essential for efficient circulation, maintaining cardiac output, and preventing conditions like regurgitation or stenosis․ Their precise operation ensures oxygenated and deoxygenated blood are correctly routed to the lungs and body, respectively․ Dysfunction in these valves can lead to serious cardiac complications, emphasizing their vital role in overall cardiovascular health and function․ Their seamless operation is fundamental to sustaining life and ensuring optimal bodily performance․
Heart Valves
The heart contains four valves (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic) that ensure blood flows in one direction․ They prevent backflow, enabling efficient circulation and maintaining cardiac health․
4․1 Types of Heart Valves
The heart features four distinct valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral (bicuspid), and aortic valves․ The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and ventricle, while the pulmonary valve lies between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery․ The mitral valve separates the left atrium and ventricle, and the aortic valve is situated between the left ventricle and aorta․ Each valve has a unique structure and function, ensuring one-way blood flow and preventing backflow․ Proper valve function is essential for maintaining cardiac efficiency and overall circulatory health․ Understanding these valves is critical for diagnosing and treating heart conditions, as their dysfunction can lead to serious complications․
4․2 Mechanism of Valve Function
Heart valves function through a precise mechanism regulated by pressure gradients and cardiac contractions․ During systole, the heart muscle contracts, increasing pressure in the ventricles, which forces the valves to open and allow blood to flow forward․ As the ventricles relax during diastole, pressure drops, and the valve leaflets are pulled shut by elastic recoil and chordae tendineae, preventing backflow․ This one-way flow ensures efficient circulation․ The mitral and tricuspid valves close during ventricular systole, while the aortic and pulmonary valves open to release blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery․ Proper valve function is critical for maintaining cardiac efficiency and overall circulatory health, preventing conditions like regurgitation or stenosis․
Electrical Conduction System of the Heart
The heart’s electrical conduction system regulates its rhythmic contractions․ It begins with the SA node, the natural pacemaker, generating electrical impulses․ These impulses travel through the AV node, Bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers, ensuring synchronized ventricular contractions․
5․1 Sinoatrial (SA) Node
The sinoatrial node, located in the right atrium near the superior vena cava, acts as the heart’s natural pacemaker․ It generates electrical impulses at a rate of approximately 60-100 beats per minute, setting the heart’s rhythm․ These impulses travel through the atria, causing them to contract․ The SA node’s activity is influenced by the autonomic nervous system, with the sympathetic nervous system increasing heart rate and parasympathetic nervous system slowing it down․ This regulatory mechanism ensures the heart adapts to physiological demands, maintaining optimal blood circulation under varying conditions․ Dysfunction of the SA node can lead to arrhythmias, emphasizing its critical role in cardiac function․
5․2 Atrioventricular (AV) Node
The atrioventricular node is a small group of specialized cardiac cells located between the atria and ventricles, near the septum․ It acts as a critical relay station in the heart’s electrical conduction system, receiving impulses from the atria via the SA node and delaying them before transmitting them to the ventricles․ This delay ensures that the atria fully contract before the ventricles, optimizing blood flow efficiency․ The AV node also regulates heart rhythm by controlling the frequency of impulses reaching the ventricles, preventing excessively rapid heartbeats․ Its role in maintaining synchronized cardiac contractions is vital for overall heart function․
5․3 Bundle of His
The Bundle of His is a group of specialized cardiac muscle fibers that play a pivotal role in the heart’s electrical conduction system․ Located in the septum between the ventricles, it receives electrical impulses from the AV node and transmits them to the ventricular muscle cells․ The Bundle of His splits into the left and right bundle branches, ensuring synchronized contraction of the left and right ventricles․ This rapid transmission system enables the ventricles to contract in unison, maintaining efficient blood circulation․ Damage to the Bundle of His can lead to arrhythmias or conduction disorders, highlighting its critical importance in maintaining normal heart rhythm and function․
5․4 Purkinje Fibers
Purkinje fibers are specialized cardiac muscle cells that form the terminal branches of the heart’s electrical conduction system․ Originating from the Bundle of His, they extend into the ventricular walls, enabling rapid transmission of electrical impulses to the contractile muscle cells․ This ensures synchronized contraction of the ventricles, optimizing blood ejection․ The fibers are larger and less branched than regular cardiomyocytes, allowing for faster impulse propagation․ Their dysfunction can lead to arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, underscoring their critical role in maintaining normal heart rhythm․ Understanding Purkinje fibers is essential for diagnosing and treating conduction-related heart conditions․
Blood Vessels Connected to the Heart
The heart is connected to several major blood vessels, including the aorta, pulmonary arteries and veins, and coronary arteries․ These vessels ensure efficient blood circulation, supplying oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs, while also nourishing the heart muscle itself․
6․1 Arteries Connected to the Heart
The heart is connected to several key arteries that play a vital role in the circulatory system․ The aorta, the largest artery, arises from the left ventricle and distributes oxygen-rich blood to the entire body․ The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation․ Additionally, the coronary arteries originate from the aorta and supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself․ The right coronary artery typically supplies the right atrium, right ventricle, and the sinoatrial (SA) node, while the left coronary artery branches into the anterior descending and circumflex arteries, nourishing the left ventricle, left atrium, and the atrioventricular (AV) node․ These arteries are essential for maintaining cardiac function and overall health․
6․2 Veins Connected to the Heart
The heart is connected to several veins that play a crucial role in returning deoxygenated blood to the heart․ The pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium, completing the pulmonary circuit․ The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are two major veins that return deoxygenated blood from the upper and lower body, respectively, into the right atrium․ Additionally, the coronary sinus is a venous structure that collects deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle itself and empties it into the right atrium․ These veins ensure proper blood circulation and maintain the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently throughout the body․ Their roles are vital for sustaining life and overall cardiovascular health․
6․3 Capillaries and Their Role
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, playing a critical role in the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products․ They connect arterioles to venules, forming a network that allows for the diffusion of substances between blood and tissues․ In the heart, capillaries supply oxygen and nutrients to cardiac muscle cells, ensuring proper functioning of the heart muscle․ They also remove carbon dioxide and other metabolic byproducts․ This exchange is essential for maintaining cellular health and overall cardiovascular function․ Capillaries are a key component of the circulatory system, enabling the heart to sustain its pumping activity and support the body’s metabolic needs․
Clinical Significance of Heart Anatomy
Understanding heart anatomy is vital for diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions․ It aids in surgical planning, catheter-based interventions, and managing congenital heart defects, improving patient outcomes significantly․
7․1 Common Heart Conditions
Common heart conditions include valvular diseases, coronary artery disease, and congenital anomalies․ Valve disorders like mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis affect blood flow efficiency․ Coronary artery disease involves plaque buildup in arteries, leading to ischemia․ Congenital heart defects, such as septal defects, are present from birth․ Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood adequately, often due to prolonged hypertension or cardiomyopathy․ Arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation, disrupt normal electrical activity, causing irregular heartbeats․ Understanding these conditions requires a deep knowledge of heart anatomy, as treatments often target specific structural components․ Accurate diagnosis and intervention rely on a thorough understanding of how these conditions alter normal heart function and anatomy․
7․2 Impact of Anatomy on Cardiac Surgery
A thorough understanding of heart anatomy is critical for successful cardiac surgery․ Precise knowledge of the heart’s structure, such as the location of chambers, valves, and blood vessels, guides surgeons in making accurate incisions and repairs․ The arrangement of coronary arteries and cardiac veins influences bypass grafting techniques․ Anatomical variations, such as the position of the sinoatrial node or the course of the bundle of His, are vital for procedures like pacemaker implantation․ Congenital heart defects often require tailored surgical approaches based on the specific anatomical abnormalities․ Additionally, the relationship between the heart and surrounding structures, like the lungs and major vessels, must be considered to avoid complications․ This anatomical insight ensures safer and more effective surgical outcomes․
Visualization of Heart Anatomy
Advanced imaging techniques like MRI and echocardiography provide detailed views of heart structures, aiding in diagnosis and surgical planning․ These tools reveal the heart’s complex anatomy, enhancing understanding and treatment effectiveness․
8․1 Use of MRI in Heart Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for visualizing heart anatomy․ It provides detailed images of cardiac structures without radiation, making it ideal for diagnosing conditions like cardiomyopathies and valvular diseases․ MRI is particularly effective in assessing soft tissue abnormalities, such as scar tissue or inflammation․ Its high-resolution imaging helps identify structural anomalies, guide surgical interventions, and monitor treatment progress․ By using strong magnetic fields and radio waves, MRI offers a non-invasive way to examine blood flow, chamber sizes, and wall thickness․ This technique is especially valuable for patients requiring long-term monitoring, as it avoids the risks associated with ionizing radiation․ Its versatility and safety make MRI a cornerstone in modern cardiac diagnostics․
8․2 Role of Echocardiography
Echocardiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses ultrasound waves to visualize the heart’s anatomy and function․ It is widely used to assess heart structures, such as chambers, valves, and walls, while also evaluating blood flow patterns․ This method is particularly useful for diagnosing conditions like valvular diseases, heart failure, and congenital heart defects․ Echocardiography provides real-time images, allowing clinicians to monitor cardiac function dynamically․ It is also employed to guide interventional procedures and assess the effectiveness of treatments․ Unlike MRI, echocardiography is more accessible and cost-effective, making it a first-line diagnostic tool in cardiology․ Its ability to deliver immediate results without radiation exposure enhances patient safety and convenience․
Learning Resources for Heart Anatomy
TeachMeAnatomy and OpenStax offer comprehensive guides, visuals, and interactive tools for studying heart anatomy․ These resources are trusted by millions of students and professionals worldwide for in-depth learning;
9․1 Recommended PDF Guides
For in-depth study, recommended PDF guides like those from TeachMeAnatomy and OpenStax provide detailed insights into heart anatomy․ These resources include high-quality visuals, labeled diagrams, and comprehensive explanations․ TeachMeAnatomy is particularly praised for its interactive tools and study tips, making complex concepts easier to grasp․ OpenStax offers a free downloadable PDF textbook on anatomy and physiology, featuring dedicated sections on heart structure and function․ These guides are ideal for both students and professionals, offering a thorough understanding of the heart’s anatomy through engaging and accessible content․ They are widely trusted and utilized in educational and medical settings worldwide․
9․2 Interactive Anatomy Tools
Interactive anatomy tools are essential for a dynamic understanding of heart anatomy․ Platforms like TeachMeAnatomy and Kenhub offer 3D heart models, allowing users to explore structures like chambers, valves, and septa in detail․ These tools enable rotation, zooming, and layering of anatomical features, making complex concepts accessible․ Many tools include quizzes and labeling exercises to test knowledge and reinforce learning․ Virtual dissection simulations provide hands-on experience, while real-time animations demonstrate blood flow and valve function․ These resources are particularly valuable for students and professionals, offering a engaging and immersive way to study heart anatomy beyond static PDF guides․ They enhance retention and provide a deeper appreciation of the heart’s intricate design․
Key Facts About Heart Anatomy
The heart contains four chambers and vital valves that ensure efficient blood circulation․ Its electrical system regulates contractions, enabling consistent blood flow to the body and lungs․
10․1 Interesting Anatomical Features
The heart boasts several fascinating anatomical features․ Its four-chambered structure ensures efficient blood separation and circulation․ The electrical conduction system, including the SA and AV nodes, enables synchronized contractions․ Unique to the heart, cardiac muscle cells are interconnected by intercalated discs, enhancing rhythmic contractions․ The coronary circulation supplies blood directly to heart tissue, a vital feature for its high energy demands․ These specialized traits underscore the heart’s remarkable adaptability and essential role in sustaining life․ Understanding these features deepens appreciation for the heart’s complexity and functionality․
FAQs About Heart Anatomy
10․2 Myths and Misconceptions
Several myths surround heart anatomy․ One common misconception is that the heart is located on the left side of the chest, when in fact it is centered in the thoracic cavity․ Another myth is that cardiac muscle is the same throughout the heart, but it varies in thickness and function across different chambers․ Some believe the heart stops during a heart attack, though it often continues beating irregularly․ Additionally, many think the heart’s electrical system is controlled by the brain, but it functions autonomously․ Clarifying these myths enhances understanding of the heart’s unique structure and function․