Description: The walls of the heart are composed of 3 layers: Epicardium (outer layer), Myocardium (middle muscular layer), and Endocardium (inner layer). These tissue layers are highly specialized & perform different functions.
Functions: The epicardium functions to protect the inner layers of the heart. It also assists in the production of pericardial fluid. The myocardium is responsible for keeping the heart pumping blood around the body. The endocardium lines the cavities & valves. It keeps the blood flowing through the heart separate from the myocardium.
Location: The epicardium is adjacent to the myocardium and surrounds the heart. The myocardium is present in the walls of all four heart chambers. At the same time, the endocardium lines the chambers and extends over valves, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles.
Description: Each side of the heart has a small collecting chamber called an “atrium” that connects to a large pumping chamber called the “ventricle.” The heart’s four chambers include the left & right atrium (upper chambers) & the left and right ventricle (lower chambers).
Function: Each of the four chambers of the heart has different functions. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body & pumps it to the right ventricle via the tricuspid valve. The right ventricle then pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries, where it becomes oxygenated. The left atrium receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle through the bicuspid valve. The left ventricle then pumps the oxygenated blood to the aortic valve and then to the aorta, where it gets delivered to the different parts of the body.
Structure of three layers of the heart
Description: The walls of the heart are composed of 3 layers: Epicardium (outer layer), Myocardium (middle muscular layer), and Endocardium (inner layer). These tissue layers are highly specialized & perform different functions.
Functions: The epicardium functions to protect the inner layers of the heart. It also assists in the production of pericardial fluid. The myocardium is responsible for keeping the heart pumping blood around the body. The endocardium lines the cavities & valves. It keeps the blood flowing through the heart separate from the myocardium.
Location: The epicardium is adjacent to the myocardium and surrounds the heart. The myocardium is present in the walls of all four heart chambers. At the same time, the endocardium lines the chambers and extends over valves, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles.
Four chambers of the heart
Description: Each side of the heart has a small collecting chamber called an “atrium” that connects to a large pumping chamber called the “ventricle.” The heart’s four chambers include the left & right atrium (upper chambers) & the left and right ventricle (lower chambers).
Function: Each of the four chambers of the heart has different functions. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body & pumps it to the right ventricle via the tricuspid valve. The right ventricle then pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries, where it becomes oxygenated. The left atrium receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle through the bicuspid valve. The left ventricle then pumps the oxygenated blood to the aortic valve and then to the aorta, where it gets delivered to the different parts of the body.