The heart is simply a pump made of muscle. Its primary function is to pump blood, which carries oxygen ands nutrients to all body cells (by the arteries) and then returns waste products from the cells (by the veins) so the liver and kidneys can rid them from the body.

Check out the following resources to better understand how the heart’s structure can be affected by disease, illness, or injury. We suggest you start with the diagrams and animations, then watch live surgeries as your interest or health needs direct you.

Anatomy Explorer provides an automated, graphic tour of the Circulatory System.

View narrated, automated video clips about:

• Myocardial Infarction (heart attack). Learn what happens to the heart during a heart attack.
• Angioplasty.
• View live open heart surgery on a beating human heart. Select off pump coronary artery bypass.