Just another iHealthSpot WP03 site

Notice: Due to the ongoing winter weather, all Cooperative Health locations will open at 10:00AM on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Are you or a family member currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP? If so, you must take a moment to update your information as the State resumes annual Medicaid eligibility reviews. Read this message for more information

.

Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers

Back to Main Website

EMPLOYEE WEBSITE

  • Donate Today
  • (866) 405-9438
  • Patient Portal
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet our Board
    • Career Opportunities
    • Make a Difference
  • ServicesShiftNav Services Menu
    • SERVICES
    • PROGRAMS
    • Radiology
    • Pediatrics
    • Family Medicine
    • Health Care for the Homeless
    • Internal Medicine
    • OB/GYN
    • Agricultural Worker Health Program
    • Counseling & Psychiatry
    • Dental
    • Substance Use Treatment
    • Podiatry
    • Orthopedics
    • School-Based Services
    • Pharmacy
    • Diabetes Management
    • All of Us Research Program
    • Chronic Disease Management
    • Hepatitis C Services
    • Outreach Program
    • Laboratory Services
    • Parents as Teachers
    • Cooperative Health HIV Program
    • Chronic Care Management
  • For Patients
    • Financial Assistance Available
  • Testimonials
  • Contact & Locations
    • Brookland Cayce Medical Practice
    • Brookland Community Pediatrics
    • Cayce West Columbia Primary Care Center
    • Cooperative Health Pharmacy
    • Eau Claire Behavioral Medicine
    • Eau Claire Family Dentistry at Monticello Road
    • Eau Claire Internal Medicine
    • Eau Claire Podiatry
    • Eau Claire Walk-In
    • Eastover Cooperative Pharmacy
    • Eastover Family Practice
    • Five Points Cooperative Pharmacy
    • Five Points Pediatrics
    • Five Points Walk-In Center
    • Hopkins Pediatrics and Family Practice
    • Lake Monticello Family Practice
    • Little Mountain Pediatric and Family Practice
    • Pediatrics of Batesburg-Leesville
    • Pediatrics of Newberry
    • Pelion Pediatrics Family & Dental Practice
    • Ridgeway Pediatrics, Family & Dental Practice
    • Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center
    • Transitions Homeless Shelter
    • Waverly Family Practice
    • Waverly Women’s Health
    • Waverly Women’s Health & Internal Medicine
    • West Columbia Coop Pharmacy
    • Winnsboro Pediatrics & Family Practice
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Portal
  • COVID-19 UPDATES
MENUMENU
  • President & CEO Committee Search Update

The Heart: How it Works

Back to Patient Education
  • Introduction

Introduction

The Heart:  How it Works
 
The heart is the core of the cardiovascular system.  Your cardiovascular system consists of your heart and the blood vessels that carry blood throughout your body.  Your heart is located to the left of the middle of your chest.  Your heart is a large muscle is about the size of your fist.  It works as a pump. The blood carries nutrients and oxygen that your body cells need for energy.  It also carries waste products away.
Your heart is divided into four sections called chambers.  The chambers are separated by the septum, a thick muscle wall.  The two top chambers are called atria, and they receive blood coming into the heart.  The two bottom chambers are called ventricles, and they send blood out from the heart.
 
Your heart contains two pumping systems, one on its left side and one on its right side.  The left-sided pumping system consists of the left atrium and the left ventricle.  Your left atrium receives blood that contains oxygen, which comes from your lungs.  Whenever you inhale, your lungs move oxygen into your blood.  The oxygenated blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle.  The left ventricle sends the oxygenated blood out from your heart to circulate throughout your body.
 
The heart’s right-sided pumping system consists of the right atrium and the right ventricle.  Your right atrium receives deoxygenated blood, blood that has circulated throughout your body and does not have high levels of oxygen in it anymore.  The deoxygenated blood moves from the right atrium to the right ventricle.  The right ventricle sends the blood to the lungs where it receives oxygen when you breathe.
 
As the blood travels through the heart chambers, four valves keep the blood from back flowing.  The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve regulate blood flow from the atria to the ventricles.  The aortic valve and the pulmonary valve control blood as it leaves the ventricles.
 
The heart has several large arteries and veins connected to it that branch out and become smaller as they travel throughout your body.  Your arteries and veins deliver blood throughout your body in a process called circulation.  Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from your heart.  The aorta is the largest blood vessel in your body.  The aorta carries all the blood that is pumped out of your heart and through its many branches, distributes blood to all of the organs and throughout the body.  Two main coronary arteries branch off the aorta to supply the heart with oxygen, blood, and nutrients to keep it healthy.  Veins are vessels that carry blood from your body and lungs back to your heart.  Your two largest veins are the superior and inferior vena cava.
 
Small blood vessels called capillaries connect your arteries and veins.  Capillaries deliver oxygen and nutrients at a cellular level.  They also remove waste products, such as carbon dioxide.  Carbon dioxide is produced after your cells have used oxygen.  Additionally, about 20% of your blood flows through your kidneys.  Your kidneys filter waste products from your blood.
 
Your doctor will listen to your heartbeat with a stethoscope.  A healthy heart makes a lub-dub sound each time it beats.  The first sound in your heartbeat occurs when the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve close.  The second sound in your heartbeat occurs when the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve close after the blood leaves your heart. 
 
Your doctor will check your pulse.  Your pulse is the beat that is felt each time your heart contracts.  You pulse can most easily be felt my lightly pressing on the skin that covers your large arteries, such as at your wrist or the side of your neck.  Your pulse increases when you are excited, active, or exercising because your body needs more oxygen to function.  Your pulse is slower when you are relaxed and resting.
 
It is important to keep your heart healthy.  You need a heart to survive.  Keep your heart muscle healthy and strong with regular exercise.  Eat healthy well-balanced meals.  Avoid foods that contain unhealthy fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats.  Do not smoke; smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels.
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • For Patients
  • Testimonials
  • Contact & Locations
  • Career Opportunities
  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Sitemap
  • Future Leaders Scholarship Initiative
  • Diabetes Education Resources Managing diabetes effectively requires access to accurate information and practical tools. We have created this resource page to empower individuals with diabetes, their families, and caregivers by providing education on managing blood sugar levels, understanding dietary needs, and addressing potential complications. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or seeking to improve your care routine, these resources offer valuable insights to support a healthier lifestyle. Diabetes Education Manual – English  Diabetes Education Manual – Spanish

Copyright © Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center dba Cooperative Health. All Rights Reserved.

This health center is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 USC 254(b), a deemed Public Health Service employer under 42 USC 233(g)-(n), and an FTCA deemed facility.

Employee Intranet

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Cooperative Health is a Federally-Qualified Health Center that provides primary care, preventive care, and support services to patients in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, & Newberry Counties.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet our Board
    • Career Opportunities
    • Make a Difference
    • Back
  • Services
    • SERVICES
    • Radiology
    • All of Us Research Program
    • Agricultural Worker Health Program
    • Chronic Disease Management
    • Counseling & Psychiatry
    • Dental
    • Diabetes Management
    • Family Medicine
    • PROGRAMS
    • Chronic Care Management
    • Health Care for the Homeless
    • Hepatitis C Services
    • Internal Medicine
    • Laboratory Services
    • OB/GYN
    • Orthopedics
    • Outreach Program
    • Parents as Teachers
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharmacy
    • Podiatry
    • Cooperative Health HIV Program
    • School-Based Services
    • Substance Use Treatment
    • Back
  • For Patients
    • Financial Assistance Available
    • Back
  • Testimonials
  • Contact & Locations
    • Brookland Community Pediatrics
    • Brookland Cayce Medical Practice
    • Cayce West Columbia Primary Care Center
    • Cooperative Health Pharmacy
    • Eastover Cooperative Pharmacy
    • Eastover Family Practice
    • Eau Claire Behavioral Medicine
    • Eau Claire Family Dentistry at Monticello Road
    • Eau Claire Internal Medicine
    • Eau Claire Podiatry
    • Eau Claire Walk-In
    • Five Points Cooperative Pharmacy
    • Five Points Pediatrics
    • Five Points Walk-In Center
    • Hopkins Pediatrics and Family Practice
    • Lake Monticello Family Practice
    • Little Mountain Pediatric and Family Practice
    • Pediatrics of Batesburg-Leesville
    • Pediatrics of Newberry
    • Pelion Pediatrics Family & Dental Practice
    • Ridgeway Pediatrics, Family & Dental Practice
    • Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center
    • Transitions Homeless Shelter
    • Waverly Family Practice
    • Waverly Women’s Health & Internal Medicine
    • Waverly Women’s Health
    • West Columbia Coop Pharmacy
    • Winnsboro Pediatrics & Family Practice
    • Back
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Portal
  • Social Media
  • COVID-19 UPDATES