Final answer:
The human heart has four chambers: two atria that receive blood and two ventricles that pump blood. Valves control blood flow direction, and electrical signals regulate heart contractions, observable with an ECG.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Four Chambers of the Heart Work
The human heart is a vital organ with a complex structure divided into four chambers: the right and left atria, and the right and left ventricles. The atria are the upper chambers that receive blood; the right atrium gets deoxygenated blood from the body, and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. These chambers then pump the blood into the lower chambers, the ventricles. The ventricles, with their muscular walls, serve as the main pumping force, propelling blood into the lungs for oxygenation from the right ventricle, and sending oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body from the left ventricle.
In addition to the coordinated contractions of the cardiac muscle, the heart relies on four critical valves to maintain one-way blood flow and prevent backflow. Heart function is also intricately linked with electrical impulses that cause depolarization and repolarization of the heart muscle, patterns that can be observed using an ECG (electrocardiogram). Together, these elements enable the heart to efficiently circulate blood throughout the body.