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Human heart and lungs

An anatomical diagram of the Human heart and lungs

The heart (adjectival form cardiac) was an organ that pumped blood, maintaining its flow through the circulatory system. The organ was described by the Malcorians to be the cardial organ. Monitoring and reporting on an individual's heartbeat, by determining heart rate, blood pressure, and/or pulse was common medical practice.

While talking about cybernetic implants in the armory in 2153, Phlox asked Malcolm Reed, "If your heart was damaged, would you want me to replace it with a synthetic organ, or would you rather die?" Reed thought that was not the same issue, and said so. (ENT: "Regeneration")

On Starbase 515, the cardiac unit was located in Surgical Suite 3, in room 03-1452. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")

Anatomical variations[]

The doctors on planet Malcor III referred to the heart as a "cardial organ" when examining Riker. It was the first thing that alerted them to the fact that he was an alien. (TNG: "First Contact")

The Banea heart was located behind the intercostal space between the eighth and ninth right ribs. (VOY: "Ex Post Facto")

The Vulcan heart was located where a Human's liver would normally be. (TOS: "Mudd's Women", "A Private Little War", "The Omega Glory"; Star Trek Beyond) They also beat several hundred times per minute. (TOS: "The Naked Time", "Journey to Babel") Additionally, their blood pressure was known to be extremely low, or according to Dr. Leonard McCoy, "practically nonexistent", which was considered "perfectly normal". (TOS: "The Naked Time")

Klingon heart diagram - choHa

Voq's Klingon heart, as he prepares to undergo species reassignment

According to Klingon mythology, the Klingon heart was forged with fire and steel and beat so loudly that none could stand before it. (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited") In a Klingon ritual suicide, a hegh'bat was plunged into the heart, which was eight-chambered. (TNG: "Ethics") In 2257, Ash Tyler recalled his choH'a' procedure, flashing back to a monitor showing Voq's Klingon heart. (DIS: "The War Without, The War Within")

Ktarians also had hearts with eight-chambers. (VOY: "Body and Soul")

Elim Garak claimed that the Romulan heart was gray, an appropriate color for "such an unimaginative race." (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges")

Tom Paris internal scan

Paris developed a second heart when he was undergoing hyper-evolution

When Tom Paris was affected by hyper-evolution caused by his warp 10 flight, he grew a second heart. (VOY: "Threshold")

Lurians had multiple hearts. (DS9: "Through the Looking Glass") Kzinti had more than one heart. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

The Takarans had a triplet heart system. The alpha heart was located in the lateral sternal, the beta heart in the parasternal, and the theta heart in the epigastric. (TNG: "Suspicions")

Heart conditions[]

Indian fakirs on Earth were supposedly able to stop their hearts by willpower alone. (ENT: "Carbon Creek")

Because the heart is a central and vital organ in many species, to be stabbed through the heart was often a quick, gruesome and effective method of murder.

In 2233, Nero stabbed Richard Robau through the heart, killing him. (Star Trek)

In 2268, Johnson suffered a heart wound during a conflict with Klingons aboard the USS Enterprise, which healed abnormally fast, due to interference by the Beta XII-A entity. (TOS: "Day of the Dove")

In 2285, David Marcus was stabbed through the heart by a Klingon and died. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

In 2327, Jean-Luc Picard was stabbed through the heart by a Nausicaan during a bar brawl on Starbase Earhart and nearly died. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare", "Tapestry")

In 2369, Ibudan murdered his clone by perforating the lower ventricle of the heart with a knife. (DS9: "A Man Alone")

In 2374, the isomorphic projection Dejaren attempted to kill B'Elanna Torres by reaching into her chest and grabbing her heart, perforating her fourth ventricle. (VOY: "Revulsion")

Further conditions[]

Patients with heart complications[]

Heart medications and treatments[]

Culture and symbolism[]

Heart padd

Backside of a civilian's PADD, with three heart symbols

In Earth culture, the heart was viewed by some Humans as the source of all emotions, including joy and sadness. (ENT: "Dear Doctor") According to Benjamin Sisko, "My father always says the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach." (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

Hearts were also used in several forms of visual art including drawings from a fourth grade class of Worley Elementary School in 2151. (ENT: "Breaking the Ice")

A particular abstract symbol was developed to represent the heart on planets such as Earth and Ferenginar. (Star Trek Into Darkness; LD: "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place")

Klingon restaurant sign

A heart on the sign of the Klingon restaurant (top right)

Several species ate the hearts of other creatures as a form of cuisine, including Klingon heart of targ. Eating the heart of one's enemy also had a place in Klingon culture, such as when Kang, Kor, Koloth, and Curzon Dax swore a blood oath to cut out and eat the heart of the Albino. (DS9: "Blood Oath")

In 2373, pillows of this shape were part of a bed concocted by Q for Kathryn Janeway. (VOY: "The Q and the Grey")

The "heart" was also used for describing the center of a location. In 2267, Spock informed the crew of the Galileo that they were being pulled to the heart of Murasaki 312 by the Murasaki effect. (TOS: "The Galileo Seven")

In 2369, Julian Bashir commented that Jadzia Dax "drove a stake through his heart" when Dax refused his interest in her. (DS9: "If Wishes Were Horses")

Bolian Ambassador Vadosia called the operations center aboard the station the "heart and soul" of Deep Space 9. (DS9: "The Forsaken")

The final draft script of TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I" referred to the computer center at Starbase 11 as "the automated heart" of that starbase.

External link[]

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