What is the main function of the heart?

The main function of the heart is to pump blood to all parts of the body. This action is crucial for maintaining circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues while also removing carbon dioxide and waste products. The heart consists of specialized muscle tissue that contracts rhythmically, allowing it to serve as a powerful pump. Each heartbeat enables the blood to travel through a network of arteries and veins, ensuring that every organ and cell receives the necessary components for function and survival.

In contrast, pumping air into the lungs is primarily the role of the respiratory system, filtering toxins from the blood is a function attributed mainly to the liver and kidneys, and producing blood cells occurs in the bone marrow. These distinctions highlight the specialized roles of various organs and systems in the body, emphasizing that the heart's unique responsibility is the circulation of blood.