Left margin of heart

Left Margin of Heart

The heart is a vital organ in the human body, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body via the circulatory system. The left margin of the heart, also known as the left border, is one of the anatomical boundaries of the heart. It is primarily formed by the left ventricle, and it extends from the lower left point of the heart to the upper left point.

Anatomy

The left margin of the heart is located near the left lung, and it is separated from the left lung by the pericardium, a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels. The left margin is convex in shape and it faces the left lung. It is formed by the left ventricle, the strongest and thickest part of the heart. The left ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

Clinical Significance

Changes in the size or shape of the left margin of the heart can indicate certain medical conditions. For example, an enlarged left ventricle can cause the left margin to appear more prominent on a chest X-ray. This can be a sign of conditions such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy, which affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Error creating thumbnail:

The left margin of the heart is formed by the left ventricle. (Image from Gray's Anatomy)

See Also

• Heart
• Left ventricle
• Pericardium
• Aorta