How does blood travel through the heart

The left and right ventricles are stronger pumps. The left ventricle is the strongest because it has to pump blood out to the entire body. When your heart functions normally, all four chambers work together in a continuous and coordinated effort to keep oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout your body.

Your heart has its own electrical system that coordinates the work of the heart chambers heart rhythm and also controls the frequency of beats heart rate. The task of your heart is to pump enough blood to deliver a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and the other vital organs.

To do this, your heart needs to:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

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Please turn on JavaScript and try again. When the ventricle is full, the tricuspid valve shuts to prevent blood flowing backwards into the atrium. Blood leaves the heart through the pulmonic valve into the pulmonary artery and flows to the lungs.

Blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle through the open mitral valve. When the ventricle is full, the mitral valve shuts to prevent blood from flowing backwards into the atrium. It is also involved in the removal of Add to collection.

Exercise strengthens your heart muscle so it works more efficiently and supports blood flow. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, reduces your risk of high cholesterol and high blood sugar, and improves blood vessel function, all of which will also help blood circulate effectively.

Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Conduction disorders. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. How the heart works. Reviewed November 12, Cleveland Clinic. How does the blood flow through your heart.

Updated April 30, American Heart Association. All about heart rate pulse. Updated July 31, Effects of exercise to improve cardiovascular health.

Front Cardiovasc Med. Doi: The Texas Heart Institute at St. Heart anatomy. Basic anatomy and function of the heart. Your Privacy Rights.

To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. Small veins lead to larger and larger veins as the blood approaches the heart. Valves in the veins keep blood flowing in the correct direction. Two large veins that lead into the heart are the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava.

The terms superior and inferior don't mean that one vein is better than the other, but that they're located above and below the heart. Once the blood is back in the heart, it needs to re-enter the pulmonary circulation and go back to the lungs to drop off the carbon dioxide and pick up more oxygen.

How Does the Heart Beat? This is when the ventricles contract and pump blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery. During systole, the atrioventricular valves close, creating the first sound the lub of a heartbeat. When the atrioventricular valves close, it keeps the blood from going back up into the atria. During this time, the aortic and pulmonary valves are open to allow blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery. When the ventricles finish contracting, the aortic and pulmonary valves close to prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles.

These valves closing is what creates the second sound the dub of a heartbeat. The second phase is called diastole die-AS-tuh-lee. This is when the atrioventricular valves open and the ventricles relax. This allows the ventricles to fill with blood from the atria, and get ready for the next heartbeat. To help keep your child's heart healthy: Encourage plenty of exercise. Offer a nutritious diet. Help your child reach and keep a healthy weight.