Serce

Serce, the Polish term for the heart, is the muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system. In humans and most vertebrates, it is located in the chest between the lungs and protected by the rib cage. The heart contains four chambers: two atria and two ventricles; valves between chambers and vessels maintain unidirectional blood flow.

Blood returns to the heart through the atria, moves into the ventricles, and is pumped to the lungs by the right heart and to the rest of the body by the left heart. The heart's pumping action is driven by electrical impulses from the sinoatrial node, the natural pacemaker, and propagated through the atrioventricular node and other conducting pathways. The cardiac cycle consists of diastole (relaxation) and systole (contraction).

An adult heart weighs about 250–300 grams and is roughly the size of a clenched fist. It is supplied by the coronary arteries, and its beating creates the pulse. Common conditions include ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and valve disorders. Diagnosis relies on electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, stress testing, and imaging methods such as MRI or CT when appropriate.

The Polish word serce derives from Proto-Slavic roots and is cognate with similar terms in other Slavic languages referring to the heart. Culturally, the heart is a widely used symbol of love and emotion and appears in many idioms, works of art, and medical discussions. In everyday language, serce is used to denote the cardiological organ.