The pathway of blood through the heart is shown by the arrows in Figure 1. The right atrium receives blood low in oxygen from all body tissues through the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. The blood then enters the right ventricle and is pumped to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. Blood returns from the lungs high in oxygen and enters the left atrium through the pulmonary veins. From here it enters the left ventricle and is forcefully pumped into the aorta to be distributed to all tissues.

Blood is kept moving in a forward direction by one-way valves. The valve in the septum between the right atrium and ventricle is the tricuspid valve (meaning three cusps or flaps); the valve in the septum between the left atrium and ventricle is the bicuspid valve (having two cusps), usually called the mitral valve (so named because it resembles a bishop's miter). The valves leading into the pulmonary artery and the aorta have three cusps. Each cusp is shaped like a half-moon, so these valves are described as semilunar valves. The valve at the entrance to the pulmonary artery is specifically named the pulmonic valve; the valve at the entrance to the aorta is the aortic valve.

Heart sounds are produced as the heart functions. The loudest of these, the familiar lubb and dupp that can be heard through the chest wall, are produced by alternate closing of the valves. The first heart sound (S1) is heard when the valves between the chambers close. The second heart sound (S2) is produced when the valves leading into the aorta and pulmonary artery close. Any sound made as the heart functions normally is termed a functional murmur. (The word murmur used alone with regard to the heart describes an abnormal sound.)

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