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Running head: THE HEART
Path of Blood Flow and Heart Attack
Lauren N. Petraglia
Contemporary Health II
Professor Tarpley
April 24, 2015
THE HEART
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Abstract
This essay will be explaining in detail the path of blood flow through the heart. Also, it will
describe what happens to the heart during a heart attack. The part of the heart that becomes
damaged will be covered as well. This is to deepen the understanding of the hearts structure and
function, and provide insight.
Key Words: heart attack, blood flow, damages, path
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The Heart
Path of Blood Flow and Heart Attack
The hearts right and left sides work together in order for blood to flow effectively and
continuously through the heart, then supplying this blood to the rest of the body. The healthcare
media publishing company, MedicineNet provides insight to how these right and left chambers
work as a team. The right side of the heart begins its part when blood moves into the heart
through two large veins, the inferior and superior vena cava. These veins then empty the blood
with a poor oxygen supply from the body into the right atrium of the heart. When the atrium
contracts, blood then flows from your right atrium into your right ventricle. It completes this
action through the open tricuspid valve. When the ventricle is full, the tricuspid valve shuts. The
shutting of the tricuspid valve prevents blood from flowing backward into the atria while the
right ventricle contracts. At the time the right ventricle contracts, blood exits the heart through
the pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary artery and to the lungs where it is oxygenated. As for the
left side of the heart, the pulmonary vein empties oxygen filled blood from the lungs into the left
atrium of the heart. When the atrium contracts, blood then flows from your left atrium into your
left ventricle. This action is completed through the open mitral valve. When the left ventricle is
full, the mitral valve shuts. The mitral valve shutting prevents blood from flowing backward into
the atrium while the left ventricle contracts. As the left ventricle contracts, blood leaves the heart
through the aortic valve, goes into the aorta, and then finally travels out to the body. (“Heart:
How the Heart Works,” n.d.). When fat builds up inside your arteries it can cause your heart to
become unable to function properly. The nonprofit academic medical center, Cleveland Clinic,
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provided information regarding what causes a heart attack, as well as, what happens to the heart
and damages that occur. A heart attack could happen because fatty build up starts a minor injury
to your blood vessel walls. Your cells will release chemicals to try to attempt to heal the blood
vessel walls. The chemicals released make the blood vessel walls stickier. Other substances
traveling through your blood stream begin to stick to the vessel walls as well. The fat and other
substances combine to form a plaque in the arteries. A system of blood vessels known as
coronary arteries surrounds the heart muscle to supply it with blood that is rich in oxygen. The
heart muscle needs this oxygen to function. A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery
becomes suddenly blocked, from the plaque buildup or a clot which then stops the flow of blood
to the heart muscle. After this occurs all or part of the heart muscle becomes cut off from its
oxygen supply. Depleted of oxygen, the heart muscle is left injured and damaged. The specific
part of the heart muscle damaged is the part that was supplied by the clotted artery. (“What is a
Heart Attack,” n.d.).
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References
How the Heart Works Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - How does blood flow through the heart?
MedicineNet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from
http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_how_the_heart_works/page3.htm
What is a Heart Attack. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/disorders/coronary-artery-di
sease/hic_Heart_Attack/cad_heartattack