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The Heart
The Heart is the hardest working muscle in the
human body. It is located almost in the centre of
the chest.
It is small, a little larger than a clenched fist.
Your heart's primary function is to pump blood
24 hours a day, 70 to 80 times a minute.
The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart
and blood vessels. It is responsible for circulating
blood throughout your body to supply the body with
oxygen and nutrients.
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| Structure
There are four cavities, or open spaces, inside
the heart that fill with blood. Two
of these cavities are called atria. The other
two are called ventricles.
Each side of the heart houses one atrium and one
ventricle. On the right side, we have the right
atrium and ventricle; while the left atrium and
ventricle are located on the left side. A wall,
called the septum, separates the right and left
sides of the heart.
A valve connects each atrium to the ventricle
below it.
The mitral valve connects the left atrium with
the left ventricle. The tricuspid valve connects
the right atrium with the right ventricle.
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