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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 Heart01:20

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...
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.
Heart Valves01:16

Heart Valves

The human heart is a complex organ with an intricate system of valves that regulate blood flow. There are two main types of valves: atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...
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...
Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle01:18

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle describes the events from one heartbeat to the next. It includes three main phases: diastole, atrial systole, and ventricular systole, all driven by changes in chamber pressures and the function of heart valves.
Diastole: The Relaxation Phase
During diastole, all four heart chambers relax. The atrioventricular (AV) valves open, and the semilunar valves close. This phase sees the lowest chamber pressures, promoting ventricular filling. Venous blood enters the heart through the...

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Quantification of Global Diastolic Function by Kinematic Modeling-based Analysis of Transmitral Flow via the Parametrized Diastolic Filling Formalism
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Aortic function quantified: the heart's essential cushion.

Nabil Saouti1, J Tim Marcus, Anton Vonk Noordegraaf

  • 1Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.saouti@vumc.nl

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|September 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Noninvasive MRI accurately measures regional aortic compliance, showing it decreases distally. This technique can track changes in arterial elasticity related to aging and cardiovascular diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Arterial compliance, primarily from the aorta, influences cardiac load and organ perfusion.
  • Noninvasive methods are needed to assess regional aortic compliance changes, especially with aging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To noninvasively determine regional aortic compliance distribution in humans.
  • To evaluate the utility of MRI-based measurements for assessing aortic elasticity.

Main Methods:

  • MRI measured aortic blood flow and area changes (ΔA) at six locations in seven healthy individuals.
  • Brachial pulse pressure (ΔP) was measured, and a transfer function derived ΔP at aortic locations.
  • Regional aortic compliance was calculated using pulse pressure and area compliance methods; pulse wave velocity (PWV) was also used for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Aortic compliance is highest proximally and decreases towards the distal aorta, consistent across methods.
  • The ascending to distal arch contributed 40% of total arterial compliance.
  • The pulse pressure method yielded higher compliance values than the area compliance method, accounting for side branches.

Conclusions:

  • Noninvasive regional aortic compliance assessment is feasible using MRI.
  • This technique enables monitoring local arterial elasticity changes associated with aging and cardiovascular diseases.