Which organ in the human body is responsible for pumping blood? A) Brain B) Liver C) Heart D) Lungs

Question

Vedantu Content Team · Accepted Answer

Answer: C) Heart

Explanation:

The heart is the vital organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the human body. This muscular organ works tirelessly, beating approximately 100,000 times per day to ensure that oxygen-rich blood reaches every cell in our body while simultaneously collecting carbon dioxide and waste products for removal.

Located in the chest cavity between the lungs, the heart is roughly the size of your fist and weighs about 250-350 grams in adults. It consists of four chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. The right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, while the left side pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

Let's understand why the other options are incorrect. The brain, while being the control center of our body, does not pump blood. Instead, it receives blood supply from the heart to function properly. The liver is responsible for detoxification, protein synthesis, and producing bile for digestion, but it doesn't pump blood. The lungs facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide but rely on the heart to pump blood through them for this gas exchange to occur.

The heart's pumping action occurs through a coordinated cycle called the cardiac cycle, which includes two main phases: systole (when the heart contracts and pumps blood out) and diastole (when the heart relaxes and fills with blood). This rhythmic contraction and relaxation create the heartbeat we can feel and the blood pressure that helps circulate blood through our extensive network of blood vessels.

The heart's incredible efficiency ensures that blood completes a full circuit through the body in less than one minute, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen while removing waste products. This makes the heart absolutely essential for life, as even a brief interruption in its pumping action can have serious consequences for all other organs and body systems.