Final answer:
The apex of the heart is oriented towards the left hip, while the base of the heart points towards the right shoulder, reflecting the dual-pump functionality of the heart in the pulmonary and systemic circuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The apex of the heart is directed toward the left hip, and the base points toward the right shoulder. The human heart functions as two pumps within one organ: the right side sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs in the pulmonary circuit, and the left side sends oxygenated blood to the rest of the body in the systemic circuit.
Due to the heart's anatomical position, the apex, being the lower pointed end, leans towards the left side of the chest cavity and rests near the fifth rib and intercostal space. The base of the heart, its broader part from where the great vessels emerge, is oriented toward the body's right side and sits higher in the chest cavity.