2007-06-07 13:19:19 · 6 answers · asked by 1234 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
While you might think the heart would have no problem getting enough oxygen-rich blood, the heart is no different from any other organ. It must have its own source of oxygenated blood. The heart is supplied by its own set of blood vessels. These are the coronary arteries. There are two main ones with two major branches each. They arise from the aorta right after it leaves the heart. The coronary arteries eventually branch into capillary beds that course throughout the heart walls and supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood. The coronary veins return blood from the heart muscle, but instead of emptying into another larger vein, they empty directly into the right atrium.
2007-06-07 13:26:26 · answer #1 · answered by Curiosity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heart is a muscle that has to work non-stop. It requires food and oxygen for working. Blood is the only means by which both are supplied throughout the body.
Hence, the heart's circulation.
Missed the import of the question the first time round.
The heart cannot absorb nutrients and oxygen, and discharge waste into the blood that is being pumped through it, because of the impervious inner lining and the difficulty in reaching all parts of the heart muscle.
However, the question is interesting, because some research is under way to see whether re-vasculariztion of the heart can be done from within, by catheter tip laser ablation.
If this is successful, it will revolutionize coronary artery repair, and render both bypass surgery and stent (PTCA) obsolete.
2007-06-07 20:09:00 · answer #2 · answered by A.V.R. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your putting the chicken before the egg on this one. It isn't the heart that requires a system, it is the system that requires a heart. The circulatory system needs a central "pumping station" to keep blood flowing through the body. That is the heart.
2007-06-07 13:24:43 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heart has oxygen needs like any other cell.
Its special because if it stops being fed, then it would stop pumping!
2007-06-07 13:24:00 · answer #4 · answered by Luis B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so it can have curulation The heart supplys oxgen with out this it will need medication to survive and it will have a infection
2007-06-07 13:27:11 · answer #5 · answered by govtagent_2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circulation_(physiology)
2007-06-07 13:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋