Heart: The Pumping Organ

There are so many organs in our body like the brain, lungs, blood vessels, and more. I chose to explain the heart. Before we talk about what the heart does, let’s look at what it looks like and where it is. Many people imagine the heart as the shape we see on playing cards, but that’s not quite right. The real heart looks more like a chubby baby holding something upside down. It’s located in the center of our chest, but not exactly in the middle. About one-third of it is on the right side, and two-thirds on the left.

Now, what does this organ actually do? The heart’s main job is pumping blood. It sends blood throughout our entire body. This is essential because blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body and removes waste. Blood also helps control our body temperature. Without the heart, none of this would happen. That’s why it’s such an important organ.

But the heart doesn’t work alone. Which organs work closely with it? Actually, almost all of them! Every organ depends on blood to work properly. The ones most closely connected to the heart are the lungs and blood vessels. The lungs take in oxygen from the air we breathe. Then the heart sends blood to the lungs to collect that oxygen. Once the blood is full of oxygen, the heart pumps it around the body. Blood vessels carry that blood everywhere. Without blood vessels, the heart wouldn’t be able to do its job. Because the heart is so important, we need to keep it healthy. How can we do that? By exercising regularly, managing stress, not smoking, and eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat meals.

The heart also changes its rhythm depending on the situation. When we are scared or in danger, our heart beats faster because the sympathetic nervous system tells it to send more blood and oxygen to our body. Athletes, on the other hand, have slower heartbeats than most people. While the average person’s heart beats about 80 times per minute, an athlete’s might only beat 40 to 50 times! A mouse’s heart beats about 650 times per minute, while a horse’s heart only beats around 40 times.

In conclusion, the heart is one of the most important organs in our body. We should take care of it by staying healthy. And even though I focused on the heart today, all the organs in our body are important and deserve our care.