Heart in situ

Watch video

The heart is often described as the central component of the cardiovascular system and muscular organ that pumps blood around the body with the pulmonary and systemic circulation. Studying the heart itself is important; exploring the anatomical relationships of the heart in situ however will allow you to better understand its function. This vital organ is located in the middle mediastinum, mostly to the left of the midsagittal plane and relates with the thymus and sternum (anteriorly), the lungs (laterally), the diaphragm (inferiorly), and the great vessels (posterosuperiorly).

The heart generally is the size of a fist and is positioned roughly along an axis extending from the right shoulder to the left hypochondrium. Its position has often been described as “a pyramid which has fallen over” where the apex is located on the left midclavicular line and points in an anteroinferior direction. Its inferior surface, also known as the diaphragmatic surface, sits on the diaphragm and can be located at the level of the 5th-6th intercostal space. The superior border, lies at the level of the second costal space, while the posterior part, is located at the level of the third costal cartilage. It’s important to know where the heart is located and its orientation in clinical practice when listening for heart sounds with a stethoscope or while performing CPR in the case of an emergency.

Watch the following video to learn more about the heart in situ, its relationship with surrounding structures and how it depends on them to perform its function.

Take a quiz

To test yourself on what you’ve learned so far about the heart in situ, take the following quiz.

Did you find weak spots in your knowledge? Try out the customizable quiz below about the heart where you can decide exactly which topics you want to be tested on.

Browse atlas

Take a closer look at the heart and its surrounding structures in the gallery below.

Summary