Heart
| Definition: |
The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood. |
| Notes: |
heart as pump, not tissue (MYOCARDIUM); qualif permitted: /anat /drug eff /embryol (FETAL HEART also exists) /growth /innerv (HEART CONDUCTION SYSTEM also exists) /microbiol /parasitol /physiol (see also ATRIAL FUNCTION & VENTRICULAR FUNCTION & their spec |
Heart Categories.
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Endocardium - The innermost layer of the heart, comprised of endothelial cells. |
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Fetal Heart - The heart of the fetus of any viviparous animal. It refers to the heart in the postembryonic period and is differentiated from the embryonic heart (HEART/embryology) only on the basis of time. |
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Heart Atria - The chambers of the heart, to which the BLOOD returns from the circulation. |
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Heart Conduction System - An impulse-conducting system composed of modified cardiac muscle and having the power of spontaneous rhythmicity and conduction more highly developed than the rest of the heart. |
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Heart Septum - The thin membranous structure between the two heart atria or the thick muscular structure between the two heart ventricles. |
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Heart Valves - Flaps of tissue that prevent regurgitation of BLOOD from the HEART VENTRICLES to the HEART ATRIA or from the PULMONARY ARTERIES or AORTA to the ventricles. |
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Heart Ventricles - The lower right and left chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps venous BLOOD into the LUNGS and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic arterial circulation. |
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Pericardium - The fibroserous sac surrounding the heart and the roots of the great vessels. |
Heart Definitions and Terms
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