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Basic anatomy and function of the heart
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to all the tissues in your body through a network of blood vessels. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives the blood containing oxygen and pumps the blood to the rest of your body
Your heart has four chambers and four valves that regulate blood flow:
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Left and right atria
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Chambers that receive blood returning from your body through your veins |
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Left and right ventricles
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Chambers where blood is pumped to your body through your arteries |
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Mitral valve
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The mitral valve controls the flow of oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle
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| Tricuspid valve |
The tricuspid valve controls the flow of oxygen-poor blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle |
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Aortic valve
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The aortic valve controls flow of oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the body
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| Pulmonary valve |
The pulmonary valve controls flow of oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs |
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