Heart Anatomy

Located between your lungs and surrounded by your ribs, the human heart is the strongest organ in the body. The human heart is roughly around the size of your fist.

The heart pumps blood around the entire body and is part of the cardiovascular system. This system supplies oxygen and nutrients to the body to keep it functioning properly. Blood is carried away from the heart through vessels called arteries and is transported to the body through vessels called veins.

If you're studying the structure and function of the heart, our professionally illustrated anatomy charts and posters are perfect for visual learners. These full-colour resources are ideal for classrooms, clinics, or home study spaces - supporting students, teachers, and medical professionals alike in grasping the essentials of cardiovascular anatomy.

The heart has four chambers, two upper chambers and two lower chambers. There are two atriums and two ventricles on the left and right side.

Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium from two large veins known as the superior and inferior vena cava. From here the blood moves through to the right ventricle where it passes into the pulmonary arteries which is where the blood becomes oxygenated. The oxygenated blood is returned to the heart through the pulmonary veins where it enters the left atrium. The blood is then transported into the left ventricle and through to the aorta and the rest of the body.

There are four valves involved with regulating your heart’s blood flow: the tricuspid valve, the pulmonary valve, the mitral valve and the aortic valve. All of these valves have an important role in preventing the backflow of blood and help to keep blood pumping within the heart.

• The tricuspid valve is located on the right side of the heart and sits between the right atrium and the right ventricle. This valve allows deoxygenated blood to flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle.
• The pulmonary valve is situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. This valve is known as a semilunar valve because it is shaped like a half moon. The function of this valve is to allow blood to be pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs where it receives oxygen.
• The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. This valve allows oxygenated blood to be pumped from the lungs to the left atrium.
• The aortic valve is the other semilunar valve in the heart and is located between the left ventricle and the aorta which is the large artery that stems from the heart and supplies blood to the body. This valve allows oxygenated blood to pass through the aorta and to the rest of the body.

We also offer an excellent selection of anatomical heart models. These include detailed representations of the heart's chambers, valves, and blood vessels, ideal for practising identification or demonstrating function. Whether you're revising for an exam or explaining a concept in a clinical setting, these models make abstract anatomy tangible and easier to understand.

The heart contracts and relaxes as it pumps blood. This results in a change of pressure within the heart and allows blood to move through the body. The relaxation period is known as diastole and is when the heart fills with deoxygenated blood from the veins. When it contracts it is known as systole. During this phase of the cycle, the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the arteries.

The heart has an electrical system that controls the pumping mechanism via electrical impulses. In the right atrium, there is a collection of specialised cells called the sinoatrial node (SA node), whose job is to set the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat.

The impulse starts here, and spreads through the atrium’s walls, reaching into the left atrium too, which causes the muscles in both the right and left atrium to contract. This electrical signal travels downwards towards the ventricles but is slowed down by the atrioventricular node (AV node), which is found between the right atrium and right ventricle. Slowing down the signal gives the atria enough time to contract fully before the impulse causes the muscles of the ventricles to contract.

Finally, the AV node redirects the signal through the centre of the heart and along a pathway of fibres called Purkinje fibres. These fibres spread out the impulse along the walls of muscle surrounding both ventricles, causing them to contract. Once the ventricles are empty, the cycle starts again back in the atria, as the SA node releases another impulse.

The heart is supplied by the cardiac plexus which helps with heart rate and muscle contraction. It is innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system which helps to control involuntary bodily functions. It is known as “rest and digest” and helps to slow down heart rate and relax muscles for internal bodily functions. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and is responsible for slowing down the heart rate which is important during periods of rest such as when we are sleeping.

The sympathetic nervous system is another part of the autonomic system and helps to prepare us when we need to be alert. This is why it is called our “fight or flight” response. It helps to increase breathing, heart rate and allows blood to flow to important organs such as the brain and the heart.

Understanding anatomy can be far more effective with high quality visual tools. Our range of anatomical models, posters and revision guides allow students and professionals to deepen their understanding through visual and tactile learning. Whether you're preparing for an exam, teaching a class, or working in a clinical setting, our resources provide a practical and engaging way to study human anatomy.