Introduction
The medical field has made significant advances over the years which have resulted in the provision of detailed information about the human body and how it works. Through various research efforts, medical and biological experts have successfully studied various human organs to present a conclusive argument on how each organ is specifically suited for its purpose, and how organs affect each other.
These studies have undoubtedly improved the quality and/or prolonged the lives of many people. In the past few decades, scholars have documented different findings regarding how body organs function. This has been made possible by the prevalence of access to sophisticated equipment and advanced diagnostic procedures, that were once only in the reins of research institutes and few specialist hospitals. However, the fact that has been constant through all these studies is that the heart is the single most important organ in the human body. This does not mean that other organs are inconsequential but rather, it means that without the heart, other organs and the body, in general, would fail.
To this effect, this study shall focus on the heart as a pivotal organ in human anatomy. A brief description of the heart shall be offered and its functions highlighted. How the heart affects other body organs shall also be looked into all the while showcasing the aspects that make the heart stand out in comparison to other bodily organs. To this end, an analysis of relevant literature shall ensue to provide an informative discussion as to what, how and why the heart is the centerpiece of human survival.
A brief overview of the heart
The heart is essentially a mass made up of muscles that contract and expand regularly to facilitate the execution of its functions. It is categorized as being part of the circulatory system. The circulatory system as defined by Simon (2009) is the transport system through which various parts of the body get the much-needed nutrients. The blood is used as the transportation vessel. Enriched with nutrients such as amino acids, oxygen and electrolytes, the blood travels through the numerous veins and arteries and delivers these nutrients to other parts of the body (Simon, 2009).
The question that remains unanswered in this segment is: how does the heart factor in all this. The heart is really a pressured pump that pumps blood into the veins and arteries to various parts of the body. It has a circulatory mechanism that pumps enriched blood from the lungs into the body and removes waste products that the body does not require. One of the iconic functions of the heart is the transportation of oxygen to various body organs. Without oxygen, the brain would become unconscious thereby limiting full body functionality. As such, the heart is a very important organ and it can be argued that without it, life as we know it would cease to exist.
The heart and homeostasis
Homeostasis refers to the ability of the body to regulate and maintain a predefined standard of physiological equilibrium. In short, the body can create and maintain a viable internal environment needed for optimum functionality of the body. Some of the aspects considered include internal body temperature, level of iron and energy and blood composition. Homeostasis is very important because it helps the body function normally regardless of external changes (Simon, 2009).
In regards to homeostasis, the heart plays a pivotal role in ensuring that internal balance is maintained. One of the obvious ways that the heart achieves this is through the transportation of nutrients to other body organs. For example, the brain is responsible for controlling body temperature and coordinating other body systems. However, it largely depends on the heart for the delivery of oxygen. Without oxygen, the brain would cease to operate, leading to multiple organ failure and even death.
In addition, its role of pumping enriched blood and removing waste products ensures that other organs such as the liver, kidneys and lungs get the needed nutrients to function optimally. The liver is tasked with the duty of breaking down toxic substances and maintaining the breakdown of carbohydrates. The kidneys on the other hand maintain the blood PH regulate blood water levels and gets rid of other wastes such as urea. The hearts’ ability to pump oxygenated and enriched blood throughout the system ensures that such organs perform efficiently and also facilitates their function by carrying the deoxygenated blood and toxic wastes to areas where they can be metabolized and re-enriched.
However, it should be noted that the heart cannot function appropriately without the help of the respiratory system. The respiratory system comprises two lungs, trachea and the alveolar. The main function of the respiratory system as explained by Thibodeau and Patton (2004) is to provide oxygen for the blood before the heart pumps it back to various body parts. If the respiratory system fails to provide adequate oxygen for the blood, the heart pumps faster so as to compensate for the deficiency thereby enabling other organs to perform their homeostatic functions properly.
Structure and functions of the heart
The heart is made up of four chambers that help it perform its functions. The chambers are further divided into two categories namely: the atria (two upper chambers) and the ventricles (lower chambers). As mentioned earlier, the heart plays a very important role in ensuring that the blood flows throughout the body. Swisher (2004) reiterates that blood is very important to the survival and full functionality of the tissues. Red blood cells provide the tissues with oxygen thereby enabling the execution of cellular processes while the plasma contained in the blood provides the tissues with the necessary nutrients needed for efficient performance and at the same time, carries away the waste generated during various body processes.
Sherwood (2008) further states that the cardiac muscles are made up of cardiomyocytes. Electric impulses are then transmitted in these tissues thereby enabling the heart to contract and expand accordingly. Within the four chambers, there is a thin layer called the endocardium which surrounds the chambers. The endocardium acts as an inhibitor and prevents the blood from clotting. Valves are strategically placed on the ventricles and atria so as to prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction. The function of the heart can best be described by the systole-diastole rhythmic system of heart beating. The systole refers to the contraction that occurs between the atria and the ventricle while the diastole is the relaxation of the atria and ventricles. These events happen very fast in an overlapping system.
During the diastole, the blood from the body systematically flows into the right atrium while the atrium is contracting, the tricuspid valve opens thereby allowing the blood to flow into the right ventricle (Thibodeau and Patton, 2004). When the right ventricle contracts, the blood flows into the pulmonary artery, which takes the deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation. After getting the oxygen, the blood is then directed to the left atrium where it is pumped into the aorta and into the body for circulation.
Unique features of the heart
The most outstanding feature of the heart is the cardiac muscles. They are unlike any other muscle in the human body. They are very strong thereby enabling the heart to beat as fast and as hard as possible without wearing out or tearing in the process. The cardiac muscles are also fitted with intercalated discs which enable the cardiac muscles to contract simultaneously as a unit. Also, the muscles can stretch further than their limit. This enables the heart to take in as much oxygenated blood as possible. Due to their unique ability to involuntarily contract, the heart can therefore pump more blood with higher pressure ensuring that it flows thoroughly throughout the body. In addition, the tricuspid and bicuspid valves are specially modified to ensure that blood does not mix or flow in the wrong direction.
Even though the brain can control the speed at which the heart drains and receives blood, it cannot control the beating mechanism of the heart (Thibodeau and Patton, 2004). This would explain why people in commas or brain-dead patients still have total heart functionality. These unique characteristics ensure that the heart performs efficiently without risks of failure or damage.
Impact of the heart on other body systems
The heart is simply a pump used to distribute blood to other parts of the body. However, this function is very important to the full functionality and metabolic efficiency of the body. If the heart has some problems and it cannot fully pump blood in the required capacities, the respiratory system will have difficulties in performing its tasks as well. In addition, the endocrine system, as well as the nervous systems, may fail if they do not get the necessary nutrients and amounts of oxygen. It should be noted that the human body consists of many systems working together to ensure full body functionality. In as much as the failure of some may not be life-threatening or even affect other systems, inadequacies in the cardiovascular system may have detrimental effects on other systems and may even lead to death.
Importance of studying the heart
According to Swisher (2004), the study of the human heart is still far from over. Each day, new discoveries are made and new conclusions formulated. Among the key researches being conducted are the viability of heart transplants and the cloning of the same. Some of the basis by which these studies have been objected against has been the problem with organ rejection and infections which make transplantation and cloning a risky procedure.
However, Sherwood (2008) asserts that new generations of immunosuppressive drugs as well as improved medical procedures have made it possible for transplants to be accepted by the body with increased safety for the patient. This means that the traditional restriction of organ donations to be primarily from close relatives for compatibility issues has been removed by these new drugs. With the waiting list growing by the day and the current reliance on human donations not meeting the needs, turning to animal organs presents a viable solution that would lead to increased availability hence shortened waiting time for patients.
In addition to this, more research is underway which aims at producing animals (clones) whose blood groups and organs are genetically engineered to survive or be accepted by the human body. Upon the success of such an innovative venture, the issue of compatibility will be resolved as well as that of the organ supply shortage that is evident globally from the long waiting lists in different areas. On the same note, cloned or genetically engineered animals have been known to breed faster (2 to 3 years) and will therefore produce harvestable organs at a much faster rate than humans thereby catering for the organ deficit. Noticeably, being mammals, the difference between the human heart and most animal organs is slight and if such transplantations aim to preserve and save lives then it is a cause worth taking.
Areas of contention
Despite the fact that the human heart has been studied, no conclusive documentation or research has been provided. This shows that the heart is a complex organ and its full potential still eludes the minds of many scholars. One of the main areas of contention is in understanding how the heartbeats and why external factors cannot affect this rate. In addition, more research needs to be conducted so as to help scholars understand why the fetal heart is different from that of an adult yet they are from the same species.
Conclusion
This paper set out to explore the heart as a pivotal organ in the human body. From this study, the functions and structure of the heart have been provided. The various impacts the heart has on other body systems have also been highlighted. The various studies being conducted to further the understanding of this organ have also been discussed and recommendations made. The heart plays a very important role in our bodies and care should be taken to ensure that we maintain a healthy lifestyle. This will ensure that the body functions optimally thereby ensuring a long and healthy life.
References
Simon, S. (2009). The Heart: Our Circulatory System. USA: Paw Prints.
Sherwood, L. (2008). Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems. NY: Cengage Learning.
Swisher, L. (2007). Study Guide for Structure & Function of the Body. USA: Mosby.
Thibodeau, G., & Patton, T. (2004). Structure and function of the body. USA: Mosby.