Hjärthalvan

Hjärthalvan is a descriptive term used to refer to the left half of the heart, comprising primarily the left atrium and the left ventricle along with their connecting valves and proximal vessels. It is not an official anatomical term in formal nomenclature; more precise language typically describes the heart as the left side or as left-sided structures.

Anatomy and connections: The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins and passes it through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps blood into the aorta through the aortic valve. The boundary between the left and right halves is marked by the interatrial septum and the interventricular septum. The left half is supplied mainly by branches of the left coronary artery, including the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries. The muscular wall of the left ventricle is thicker than that of the right ventricle, reflecting its role in generating systemic pressure.

Function and physiology: The left half of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and delivers it to the systemic circulation. The left ventricle’s thick myocardium enables the high-pressure ejection needed to sustain perfusion throughout the body. The left atrium acts as a reservoir and conduit for pulmonary venous return, and its size can reflect loading conditions and valvular disease.

Clinical relevance: Conditions affecting the left half include left-sided heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy due to hypertension, and mitral valve disease leading to left atrial enlargement. Diagnostic evaluation often uses echocardiography, MRI, or CT to assess chamber size, wall thickness, and valve function.