How does the heart work? Our super organ explained simply!
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00:00As one of the first organs to start working, it's already clear the heart is
00:05something special. A super organ ready to tackle great challenges. From now on it
00:14will supply the other organs with nutrients and transport oxygen to every
00:18cell in the body. It also fights pathogens by transporting immune cells
00:25to trouble spots. And it keeps communication going with hormones. It
00:31constantly adapts to the needs of the other organs. It even speeds up its
00:37working pace threefold when needed. The heart is actually rather simple and
00:44essentially consists of two pumps. The right ventricle transports blood to the
00:51lungs for oxygen uptake. The oxygen-rich blood enters the larger left ventricle
00:56and is pumped from there to the entire body. The atria ensure a constant inflow
01:02and stabilize the pressure in the heart. As befits a super organ, the heart is
01:09very muscular. The structure of its high endurance muscle tissue is unique in the
01:15body. Unlike other muscles, the heart muscle stimulates itself and thus beats
01:21all on its own. But other organs try to speed up or slow down its rhythm by way
01:27of nerve impulses or hormones. Being on duty 24-7 puts the heart under pressure
01:33literally. And the higher the blood pressure, the harder the heart has to
01:38pump. Lifestyle has a major influence on heart health. Lack of exercise, alcohol,
01:47nicotine and stress can all take their toll. In the long run, that can place
01:54strain on the heart muscle and blood vessels, which can lead to a wide range
01:58of problems, including a stroke or heart attack. But our heart doesn't give up
02:05that easily. Perhaps its most important superpower is its stamina. If we take
02:13good care of our heart, it can beat over 3 billion times in a lifetime, a record
02:18compared to other mammals. Around the clock and always full of energy, our
02:24heart, a super organ.