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Function of heart

The Function of Heart

The function of the heart in any organism is to maintain a constant flow of blood throughout the body. This replenishes oxygen and circulates nutrients among the cells and tissues. Also, because the human heart is a homologous organ, it functions no differently from any other vertebrates that possess a heart. Following are the main functions of the heart:

  • One of the primary function of the human heart is to pump blood throughout the body.
  • Blood delivers oxygen, hormones, glucose and other components to various parts of the body, including the human heart.
  • The heart also ensures that adequate blood pressure is maintained in the body

There are two types of circulation within the body, namely pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation.

Types of Circulation

  • Pulmonary circulation is a portion of circulation responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood away from the heart, to the lungs and then brings oxygenated blood back to the heart.
  • Systemic circulation is another portion of circulation where the oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart to every organ and tissue in the body, and then back again to the heart.

Now, the heart itself is a muscle and therefore, it needs a constant supply of oxygenated blood. This is where another type of circulation comes into play, the coronary circulation.

  • Coronary circulation is an essential portion of the circulation, where oxygenated blood is supplied to the heart. This is important as the heart is responsible for supplying blood throughout the body. Moreover, organs like the brain need a steady flow of fresh, oxygenated blood to ensure functionality