Heart

How it is used

In technical words the heart becomes cardiac or cardio- (cardiac muscle, cardiovascular system). Doctors listen to heart sounds and measure heart rate. The heart lies in the mediastinum, slightly to the left of the midline.

Example sentences

1. The left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body.

2. Can you hear the heart sounds clearly on the left side of the chest?

Common collocations

• heart rate
• heart sounds
• heart valve
• chambers of the heart

Related terms

• atriumOne of the two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood: the right atrium from the veins of the body and the left atrium from the lungs. Each passes blood down to its ventricle.
• ventricleOne of the two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out: the right ventricle sends blood to the lungs and the left ventricle sends it to the rest of the body.
• arteryA blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. Most arteries carry oxygen-rich blood; the pulmonary arteries are the exception, taking blood low in oxygen to the lungs.
• cardio-A word part from Greek meaning 'heart'. It appears as cardi- or cardio- at the start of words and as -cardia or -cardium at the end, as in cardiology, tachycardia and myocardium.
• cardiac cycleThe sequence of events in one heartbeat: contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the atria and ventricles, with the heart valves opening and closing in turn.

More terms: Heart, Circulation and Breathing

• vein
• lung
• capillary
• blood pressure
• respiration
• diaphragm
• red blood cell
• trachea
• alveolus
• gas exchange
• lymph node