Description of the Heart Page
Description of the heart
The heart is a hollow, cone-shaped muscle located between the lungs and behind the sternum.
Two-thirds of the heart is located to the left of the midline of the body and
1/3 is to the right (see Figure 1).
The apex (pointed end) points down and to the left. It is 5 inches (12 cm)
long, 3.5 inches (8-9 cm) wide and 2.5 inches (6 cm) from front to back, and is
roughly the size of your fist. The average weight of a female human heart is 9
ounces and a male's heart is 10.5 ounces. The heart comprises less than 0.5
percent of the total body weight.
The heart has three layers. The smooth, inside lining of the heart is called
the endocardium. The middle layer of heart muscle is called the
myocardium. It is surrounded by a fluid filled sac called
the pericardium (Bianco, 2013).
The heart is a hollow, cone-shaped muscle located between the lungs and behind the sternum.
Two-thirds of the heart is located to the left of the midline of the body and
1/3 is to the right (see Figure 1).
The apex (pointed end) points down and to the left. It is 5 inches (12 cm)
long, 3.5 inches (8-9 cm) wide and 2.5 inches (6 cm) from front to back, and is
roughly the size of your fist. The average weight of a female human heart is 9
ounces and a male's heart is 10.5 ounces. The heart comprises less than 0.5
percent of the total body weight.
The heart has three layers. The smooth, inside lining of the heart is called
the endocardium. The middle layer of heart muscle is called the
myocardium. It is surrounded by a fluid filled sac called
the pericardium (Bianco, 2013).
Discussion Activity - Please see discussion rubric
In the forum below:
1. Give a brief introduction of yourself and why you are taking a cardiovascular class.
2. List five facts about the heart from the reading that you find particularly interesting.
3. Describe an analogy of the heart. This may be from the introduction of the reading or your own example.
In the forum below:
1. Give a brief introduction of yourself and why you are taking a cardiovascular class.
2. List five facts about the heart from the reading that you find particularly interesting.
3. Describe an analogy of the heart. This may be from the introduction of the reading or your own example.