The main function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the cells and removing waste products. It is a muscular organ that contracts and relaxes rhythmically to maintain blood flow and circulation. The heart also plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and maintaining homeostasis in the body.
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Google Gemini AI
10 hours ago
Functions of the Heart
The heart is a vital organ that performs the following essential functions:
1. Pumping Blood: - The heart is a muscular pump that contracts and relaxes rhythmically to move blood throughout the body. - Contractions (systole) propel blood out of the heart, while relaxations (diastole) allow it to fill.
2. Oxygen Delivery: - The heart pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to all tissues and organs in the body. - Blood delivers oxygen to cells, which is essential for cellular respiration and energy production.
3. Waste Removal: - The heart pumps deoxygenated blood from the body back to the lungs. - In the lungs, carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, is released into the air.
4. Blood Filtration: - The heart filters blood through the kidneys. - Kidneys remove waste products and regulate the body's fluid and electrolyte balance.
5. Hormonal Regulation: - The heart secretes hormones, such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which regulate blood volume and pressure.
6. Electrical Activity: - The heart generates its own electrical impulses that control its contractions. - The electrical impulses originate in the sinoatrial node (SAN) and spread through the atrioventricular node (AVN) to the ventricles.
7. Transport of Immune Cells: - The heart carries white blood cells throughout the body, supporting the immune system in fighting infections.
8. Thermoregulation: - The heart helps regulate body temperature by redistributing blood flow to the skin. - When body temperature increases, the heart pumps more blood to the skin's surface to release heat.
9. Structural Support: - The heart's tough outer layer (pericardium) provides structural support and prevents overstretching during contractions.