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Related Concept Videos

Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

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The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
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Anatomy of the Heart01:20

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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...
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Anatomy of the Heart01:27

Anatomy of the Heart

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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.
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Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

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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...
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Overview of the Heart01:07

Overview of the Heart

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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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Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle01:18

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

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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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Imaging Cleared Embryonic and Postnatal Hearts at Single-cell Resolution
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The vertebrate heart: an evolutionary perspective.

Andrea Stephenson1, Justin W Adams2, Mauro Vaccarezza1

  • 1School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.

Journal of Anatomy
|September 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The vertebrate circulatory system evolved from a simple tube to complex hearts, showcasing convergent evolution. Mammalian hearts, with their unique myocardial structure, represent a key adaptation in this evolutionary journey.

Keywords:
circulatory systemcomparative anatomyevolutionheartvertebrate

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Physiology

Background:

  • The circulatory system's basic plan originated in early chordates over 700 million years ago.
  • Vertebrate circulatory systems display diverse adaptations across different species.
  • Independent species often evolve similar traits under similar environmental pressures (convergent evolution).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolutionary history of the vertebrate circulatory system.
  • To highlight the convergent evolution of heart structures in vertebrates.
  • To emphasize the functional significance of circulatory system adaptations.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of circulatory system structures across vertebrate taxa.
  • Review of paleontological and developmental data on chordate and vertebrate hearts.
  • Examination of physiological adaptations linked to heart morphology.

Main Results:

  • Early chordates possessed a single-layered tube circulatory system.
  • Gnathostome fish evolved a two-chambered heart (atrium and ventricle).
  • Amphibians developed a three-chambered heart, while reptiles, birds, and mammals evolved a four-chambered heart.
  • Mammalian hearts exhibit unique myocardial muscle structures.

Conclusions:

  • The vertebrate heart evolved progressively from simpler to more complex structures.
  • Convergent evolution shaped the diverse circulatory systems observed in vertebrates.
  • Specific heart structures, like the four-chambered mammalian heart, are crucial for species-specific physiological functions.