Circulation of the Heart

Introduction

The heart is a vital organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and removing waste products. The circulation of the heart is divided into two main systems: the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation.

The Two Circulatory Systems

1. Pulmonary Circulation

Pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and the lungs. This process is crucial for oxygenating the blood.

• Pathway:
  • Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava.
  • The blood moves into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve.
  • When the right ventricle contracts, blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary arteries, leading to the lungs.
  • In the lungs, blood receives oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
  • Oxygenated blood returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins, entering the left atrium.

2. Systemic Circulation

Systemic circulation supplies oxygenated blood to the entire body and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.

• Pathway:
  • Oxygenated blood moves from the left atrium into the left ventricle through the mitral valve.
  • The left ventricle pumps blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, which distributes it to the body's arteries.
  • Blood reaches various organs and tissues, delivering oxygen and nutrients while collecting waste products.
  • Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins into the superior and inferior vena cava, restarting the circulation process.

Coronary Circulation

The heart itself also needs oxygen and nutrients, which are supplied through coronary circulation.

• Coronary Arteries: Deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
• Coronary Veins: Remove deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle back into the right atrium.

If coronary circulation is blocked, it can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a leading cause of heart attacks.

Summary

• The right side of the heart handles deoxygenated blood and pumps it to the lungs.
• The left side of the heart handles oxygenated blood and pumps it throughout the body.
• Coronary circulation supplies blood directly to the heart muscle.

Understanding heart circulation is crucial for recognizing conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease.

References

1. Pulmonary Circulation: Transports blood to and from the lungs.
2. Systemic Circulation: Distributes oxygen-rich blood to tissues.
3. Coronary Circulation: Feeds the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients.

Source recommendations

1. American Heart Association Guidelines

1. https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements
2. https://www.heart.org/
3. https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-statements
4. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines
5. https://elearning.heart.org/courses

2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines

1. https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines
2. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/34/3227/6358713
3. https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines
4. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/39/4043/7238227
5. https://www.escardio.org/