1. The Heart

2. Description of the Heart Location:  Between the lungs  More to the left of your chest Size of the Heart:  12cm in length  8-9cm in width  6cm in thickness Weight of Heart  Males: 280-340 grams  Females: 230-280grams

3. Functions of the Heart Four interrelated chambers 1.Right Atrium  Receives deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body via the superior (anterior) and inferior (posterior) vena cava 2.Right Ventricle  Receives deoxygenated blood from right atrium  Pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary vein 3.Left Atrium  Receives the oxygenated blood from lungs via pulmonary veins 4.Left Ventricle  Receives oxygenated blood from left atrium  Pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body via the aorta

4. Coronary Arteries Supply blood to the heart muscle Right coronary artery supplies both the left and the right heart Left coronary artery supplies the left heart. Posterior Heart Arteries Anterior Heart Arteries

5. Myocardial Infarction Also known as heart attack Lack of blood or no blood traveling to a part of a heart muscle (myocardium) causes the muscle to die Triggered by:  Atherosclerosis Coronary artery carrying blood to the heart is blocked by build-up of plaque  Coronary artery spasms

6. Symptoms of a Myocardial Infarction Uncomfortable feeling of pressure on the chest Pain may spread to jaw, neck, shoulders, arms or upper abdomen Nausea and lightheadedness

7. Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Cross Section Light- colored tissue indicates a myocardial infarction Normal fatty tissue Dark area shows beginning of healing – increased blood supply

8. Old Myocardial Infarctions Scar tissue from an infarct at least two weeks old.

9. Heart Attack Complications Arrhythmias Damaged heart muscle is replaced by scar tissue Damage caused by heart attack increases chance of heart failure Pericarditis (infection around the lining of the heart) Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs)