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It can be helpful to learn about your child's heart problem and how it affects them.
An easy way to gain this knowledge is to review how the normal, healthy heart works.
The heart is a strong muscle that acts as a pump. The pumping action causes the heartbeat or pulse.
The heart's four chambers are the left and right:
The wall that divides the right side of the heart from the left side is the septum.
The size of the heart is about as big as its “owner's" fist.
>> See a diagram of how blood passes through the heart.
The heart pumps blood high in oxygen (red blood) to the body.
After the body uses the oxygen, the blood low in oxygen (blue blood) returns to the heart's right atrium. It then flows into the right ventricle.
The right ventricle pumps blue blood into tiny vessels in the lungs where it picks up oxygen and turns red. Red blood returns to the left atrium and flows into the left ventricle.
The left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta, which carries it to the body.
This process happens over and over again.
As blood moves in and out of the heart's chambers, it passes through four small "flaps" called valves.
With each heartbeat, the valves act as one-way doors that open and close so blood flows in the right direction. When a valve closes, blood can't pass through it.
There are two valves on each side of the heart:
Blood travels to and from the heart in two types of blood vessels.
As the heart pumps red blood to the rest of the body, it causes pressure in the arteries. This is how we measure blood pressure.
Three types of tissue make up the heart.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With MyCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.