Main elements of the heart

Our hearts are key to our very survival, and it is incredibly important that we think about our heart health and what we would do in the event of a cardiac issue. Emergency First Aid Training Courses like those from https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/emergency-first-aid-training-courses/ support their learners in giving them skills and knowledge to deal with cardiac issues.

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The heart is made up of four chambers. Two of these are located at the top of the heart and are called the atria, and two are located at the bottom of the heart and are called the ventricles. These four chambers are where the blood is pumped around the heart and then out through the various arteries. On the right side of the heart, the atrium and the ventricle pump deoxygenated blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. On the left side of the heart, the atrium and the ventricle pump oxygenated blood around the body.

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There are four main valves in the heart, and these open to allow blood to pass through them and then close to prevent blood from flowing the wrong way. The valves are all located on the main arteries that come into the heart – the pulmonary artery and the aorta, and also between the atrium and ventricle on each side of the heart. In the case of some heart conditions, these valves may need to be repaired or replaced.