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Related Concept Videos

Location and Orientation of the Heart01:13

Location and Orientation of the Heart

The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
Anatomy of the Heart01:27

Anatomy of the Heart

The human heart is made up of three layers of tissue that are surrounded by the pericardium, a membrane that protects and confines the heart. The outermost layer, closest to the pericardium, is the epicardium. The pericardial cavity separates the pericardium from the epicardium. Beneath the epicardium is the myocardium, the middle layer, and the endocardium, the innermost layer. There are four chambers of the heart: the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle.
Anatomy of the Heart01:20

Anatomy of the Heart

The heart is a hollow, muscular organ approximately the size of a fist, consisting of four chambers. It is enclosed in the pericardium, a fibrous sac with two layers: the visceral and parietal pericardium, separated by a fluid-filled space containing serous fluid to reduce friction.
The heart has three layers: the innermost endocardium, the muscular myocardium, and the outer epicardium, all working together for optimal cardiac function.
Chambers of the Heart
The heart is made up of four...
Layers of the Heart Wall01:15

Layers of the Heart Wall

The heart wall comprises three distinct layers: the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The outermost layer, the epicardium, is the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, featuring a thin, transparent mesothelial surface and an inner layer of areolar connective tissue with fat deposits that increase with age.
The myocardium, the thickest layer, consists of cardiac muscle cells interconnected by intercalated discs and crisscrossing connective tissue fibers. These muscle fibers contract...
Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Overview of the Heart01:07

Overview of the Heart

The heart, a muscular organ located in the chest, functions as the body's pump, circulating blood through the vascular system. It has four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
The heart's structure...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model
07:15

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model

Published on: September 2, 2021

The heart and pericardium.

Shahab A Akhter1

  • 1Section of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 5040, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. sakhter@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu

Thoracic Surgery Clinics
|April 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This article details normal heart and pericardium anatomy, including chambers, valves, and vessels. A strong understanding of cardiothoracic anatomy is crucial for modern, minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Anatomy
  • Thoracic Surgery

Background:

  • Specialized cardiac and thoracic procedures are increasingly common.
  • Minimally invasive techniques require precise anatomical knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the normal anatomy of the heart and pericardium.
  • To provide a foundational resource for cardiothoracic surgeons.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed anatomical description of the heart and surrounding structures.
  • Review of pericardium, mediastinal nerves, cardiac chambers, valves, coronary arteries and veins, and conduction tissues.

Main Results:

  • Comprehensive overview of normal cardiothoracic anatomy presented.
  • Key anatomical structures relevant to surgical procedures are identified.

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Dissection Techniques and Histological Sampling of the Heart in Large Animal Models for Cardiovascular Diseases

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model
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Delivery of Cardioactive Therapeutics in a Porcine Myocardial Infarction Model
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Conclusions:

  • Thorough knowledge of cardiothoracic anatomy is essential for performing specialized and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
  • This article serves as a vital reference for cardiothoracic surgeons.