Monday, May 4, 2009

Little 'bout the Heart

The heart is a machine, works hard day in and day out, thank goodness :) It is located in the mediastinum which is between the lungs and the esophagus and trachea run through it. The esophagous and trachea run through a hole called the aortic hiatus part of the diaphram. The top of the heart is called the BASE (hmmm) and the bottom of the heart is called the APEX. Our heart is usually the size of your two fists that would kinda sit in a partially inflated balloon. It has an outerwrapping called the pericardial layer and an inner wrapping called the viseral layer or epicardium. The space between the inner and outer wrapping is called the pericardial space.

There is 3 layers of the Heart:

Endocaridum- Simple Squamous
Myocardium- Cardiac Muscle
Epicardium- Areolar Connective Tissue

An adult heart pumps 5 quarts of blood each minute! and approximately 2,000 gallons of blood each day throughout the body!!! And for Adults our heart only weighs about 8-10 ounces and is made up of 78% water. Crazy...

1 comment:

  1. Eat Healthy to Help Prevent Heart Disease!!!!!
    Heart disease is the #1 killer for americans!!
    lower your chances of getting heart disease by choosing your foods carefully. For a healthy heart, eat:

    less fat
    less sodium
    fewer calories
    more fiber.

    Some fats are more likely to cause heart disease—saturated fats and trans fats. These fats are usually found in foods from animals, such as meat, milk, cheese, and butter. They also are found in foods with palm and coconut oils.

    Eat less Sodium
    Eating less sodium can help lower some people’s blood pressure. Reduce chances of heart disease.

    Sodium is something we need in our diets, but most of us eat too much of it. So, avoid adding salt to foods at the table.

    Eat fewer Calories
    When we eat more calories than we need, we gain weight. Being overweight can cause heart disease. fewer calories = less weight
    Eating fiber from fruits, vegetables, and grains may help lower your chances of getting heart disease.

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