Where the heart is situated?

The heart is located in the mediastinum, which is the middle compartment of the chest. It is situated slightly to the left of the midline and is protected by the sternum (breastbone) and the ribs. The heart is about the size of a clenched fist and weighs between 10 and 12 ounces (280 to 340 grams) in adults.

The heart is divided into four chambers: the two atria (singular, atrium) and the two ventricles. The atria are the upper chambers of the heart and the ventricles are the lower chambers. The right atrium receives blood from the body and the left atrium receives blood from the lungs. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and the left ventricle pumps blood to the body.

The heart is a muscular organ that contracts and relaxes to pump blood. The contraction of the heart is called systole and the relaxation of the heart is called diastole. The heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. The normal heart rate for adults at rest is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.