A Healthy Heart

The role of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body. A normal heart is divided into right and left sides separated by the atrial and ventricular septa or walls. The atria receive the blood from the body (right atrium) or the lungs (left atrium). The blood then flows into the pumping chambers that deliver the blood to the lungs (right ventricle) or the body (left ventricle). The blood picks up oxygen in the lungs and then delivers the oxygen to the body.

Arteries are the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart. Veins are blood vessels returning to the heart.
The four types of valves regulate blood flow through your heart:
* Tricuspid valve: Controls blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.
* Pulmonary valve: Controls blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to your lungs to pick up oxygen.
* Mitral valve: lets oxygen-rich blood from your lungs pass from the left atrium into the left ventricle.
* Aortic valve: opens the way for oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta, your body's largest artery, where it is delivered to the rest of your body.