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Why does the heart beat?


Why does the heart beat?
Inside the Body


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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

You probably already know that the heart is one of the most important organs in your body. Put your hand on your chest – can you feel it thump-thumping??

In order to survive, one of the most important things the human body needs is oxygen. You take in oxygen by breathing, and then your blood has the important job of carrying that oxygen all over your body from your head down to your toes! But the blood doesn’t just move on its own, and that’s where your heart comes in!

Your heart has the important job of pumping your oxygen-rich blood all throughout your body! – The beat-beat-beating sounds that you can feel or hear are made by the valves in your heart as they open and close to pump blood in and out!! Neat!




When your heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through your body, it also brings helps circulate nutrients that are carried around in the blood, too! And not only is oxygen brought to your body when your blood circulates, but carbon dioxide and other wastes are also carried away!






Pump it!

Did you know that there are other parts of your body aside from your chest where you can feel the way your heart pumps blood? This is your pulse – spots on your body where you can feel the pumping flow of blood originating from your heart!

One of the easiest spots for taking your pulse is on the inside of your wrist. Try resting your second and third fingers on this spot. Can you feel the gentle beating? If not, move your fingers around a bit and press a little harder or a little more gently until you can find it. Try counting the number of beats you can feel in your pulse in ten seconds. Have a grown-up help you multiply that number by six to get your heart rate!