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Understanding the Human Heart: Structure, Function, and Development
Anatomy and Function of the Human Heart
The human heart is a muscular organ located within the thorax, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It consists of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The atria function primarily as collecting chambers, while the ventricles are responsible for pumping blood. The right atrium and ventricle handle deoxygenated blood from the body and pump it to the lungs, whereas the left atrium and ventricle manage oxygenated blood from the lungs and distribute it throughout the body. This one-way flow of blood is maintained by four valves: tricuspid, bicuspid, pulmonary, and aortic.
Detailed Anatomical Structure and Fiber Orientation
Recent advancements have led to the development of anatomically detailed models of the human heart, reconstructed from computed tomography images. These models include intricate details such as atrial muscles, sinoatrial node, crista terminalis, pectinate muscles, and the Purkinje network. Additionally, the epicardial and endocardial myofiber orientations of the ventricles and atrial myofiber orientation have been measured, providing a comprehensive view of the heart's structure and function.
Gene Expression and Cellular Composition
A systematic meta-analysis of gene expression profiling datasets has generated a quantitative transcriptome reference map of the normal human heart. This map visualizes the gene and chromosomal levels of the heart's basic histology and physiology, identifying suitable housekeeping reference genes and analyzing the stoichiometry of gene products. This reference map serves as a model to understand the mechanisms underlying heart pathophysiology.
Single-cell RNA sequencing has further mapped the gene expression landscapes of approximately 4,000 cardiac cells from human embryos, identifying four major cell types: cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and valvar interstitial cells. This study highlights the distinct features of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes and the stepwise changes in gene expression during heart development.
Computational Models and Simulations
The Living Heart Project has developed a robust and integrative simulator for human heart function, combining electrical and mechanical fields to study the heart's four chambers and valves. This simulator visualizes the electrical potential and mechanical deformation across the heart, providing insights into the pressure-volume relationship and guiding device design and treatment planning for cardiac diseases.
A comprehensive and biophysically detailed computational model of the whole human heart has been proposed, considering both atrial and ventricular contraction. This model includes anatomically accurate geometry, myocardial fiber architecture, and a closed-loop model of the circulatory system. It reproduces healthy cardiac function with unprecedented accuracy, highlighting the importance of considering atrial contraction and fibers-stretch-rate feedback.
Developmental Track and Cellular Atlas
A spatiotemporal organ-wide gene expression and cell atlas of the developing human heart has been created, mapping cell-type-specific gene expression to specific anatomical domains at three developmental stages. This atlas provides a comprehensive transcriptional landscape of cell types populating the embryonic heart, facilitating future studies on human cardiogenesis.
Conclusion
The human heart is a complex organ with intricate anatomical structures and diverse cellular compositions. Advances in gene expression profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing, and computational modeling have significantly enhanced our understanding of the heart's structure, function, and development. These insights are crucial for developing effective diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and guiding treatment planning for various cardiac diseases.
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