The heart - technical terms explained - Heart Information Series Number 18 - Beating Heart Disease Together

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Đào

Beating Heart Disease Together is a Heart Information Series booklet that explains how the heart and circulatory system work, with clear descriptions of blood flow through the chambers, valves, arteries, veins, and major vessels. It helps readers understand medical terminology commonly heard when talking with doctors and nurses, including key anatomical and cardiovascular terms. It also directs readers to further British Heart Foundation information and notes that it does not replace professional advice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages56

Reading Time2 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

About this booklet

The heart and circulatory system

Technical terms

For more information

Have your say

The heart – technical terms explained Heart Information Series Number 18 Beating Heart Disease Together About the British Heart Foundation The British Heart Foundation is the nation’s heart charity, saving lives through pioneering research, patient care and vital information. What you can do for us We rely on donations to continue our vital work. If you would like to make a donation to the British Heart Foundation, please ring our credit card hotline on 0870 606 3399 or contact us through our website [at](at bhf.org.uk/donate or)[ bhf.org.uk/donate](at bhf.org.uk/donate or)[ or](at bhf.org.uk/donate or) send it to us at the address on the back cover. British Heart Foundation website You may find other useful information on our website at: [bhf.org.uk](bhf.org.uk) About this booklet ................................................................................... 4 The heart and circulatory system .................................................. 5 Technical terms ........................................................................................... 9 For more information .......................................................................... 51 Have your say ............................................................................................ 54 This booklet is for people with heart disease, and for their family and friends. It explains: • how the heart works, and • the medical terms you might hear while talking to doctors and nurses. This booklet does not replace the advice that your doctors or nurses may give you, but it should help you to understand what they tell you. 4 l British Heart Foundation Your heart is a pump. It keeps blood moving around your body. The blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body, and carries away unwanted carbon dioxide and other waste products. The heart has four chambers – two on the left side and two on the right. The two upper chambers are called the atria, and the two lower chambers are called the ventricles. The two sides of the heart are divided by a muscular wall called the septum. Each side of the heart has a ‘one-way valve system’, which means that the blood travels only in one direction through the two chambers on each side. The illustration on the next page shows the direction that the blood flows in through your heart, and the names of all the different parts of the heart. The heart – technical terms explained l 5 Your heart and how it works The right side of the heart receives blood from the veins in the body and pumpsit through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. There it picks up fresh oxygen and releases carbon dioxide and then passes through to the left side of the heart. The left side of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the arteries in the lungs, and pumps it through the aorta to the body. The illustration below shows the direction the blood flows in. We explain this in more detail on the next page. Right side of the heart Left side To the head and arms From the head and arms To the right lung Aorta Pulmonary artery To the left lung From the right lung Pulmonary vein Right atrium From the left lung Left atrium Pulmonary valve Tricuspid valve Right ventricle From the lower part of the body and legs Aortic valve Mitral valve Left ventricle To the lower part of the body and legs Heart muscle 6 l British Heart Foundation (myocardium) With each contraction, or heartbeat, the heart pumps blood forward from the left side of the heart through the aorta and into the arteries. The arteries divide off into smaller and smaller branches to supply a microscopic network of capillaries, taking the blood to every part of your body. The blood then travels back to the heart. First it goes from the capillaries into the veins. The branches of the veins join to form larger veins, which deliver the blood back to the right side of your heart. As the h

FAQs

Who is this booklet intended for?

It is for people with heart disease and for their family and friends.

What does the booklet explain about the heart?

It explains how the heart works and the medical terms readers may hear when speaking with doctors and nurses.

Does the booklet replace advice from healthcare professionals?

No. It does not replace the advice your doctors or nurses may give, but it helps you understand what they tell you.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Đào