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Heart

The heart is a muscular, four-chambered organ located in the chest that acts as a double pump for the circulatory system. It is made of specialised muscle tissue called cardiac muscle and is responsible for continuously pumping blood around the body to maintain the two separate circuits:

  1. Pulmonary Circuit: The right side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
  2. Systemic Circuit: The left side pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

The thicker, more muscular left ventricle generates the high pressure needed to circulate blood systemically. Valves within the heart ensure that blood flows in one direction and prevent backflow.