The circulatory system, which consists of the heart, arterial system, venous system, and lymphatics, constitutes a complicated network of vessels and ducts that are responsible for the delivery of oxygenated blood to the body and return of deoxygenated blood to the heart and lungs. The heart is at the center of the circulatory system, and its pumping mechanism provides energy and nutrition to all organs in the body. This review focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the heart and describes anatomic details that are important to the planning of many common cardiac operations.
This review contains 28 figures, and 25 references.
Key words: aortic root, aortic valve, atrial septum, atrioventricular node, coronary artery, fibrous skeleton of heart, mitral valve, myocardium, pericardium, pulmonic valve, sinoatrial node, tricuspid valve, ventricular septum